Analysis and Control of Saline Water Intrusion into Contai (West Bengal, India)

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Analysis and Control of Saline Water Intrusion into Contai (West Bengal, India)

Abstract

Saline water intrusion into fresh groundwater aquifers takes place in the vicinity of coastal regions having hydraulic continuity with the sea. India has significantly long coastal belt and contamination in the aquifers in these regions by saltwater intrusion has been seen. Such intrusion is likely to cause serious consequence if such aquifers are tapped for domestic water supply, irrigation or for any other specific purpose.

This paper is based on an extensive field study on subsurface and groundwater characterization in Contai which is a small town near the coast of West Bengal, India. An innovative methodology was developed to control the saline water intrusion into coastal aquifers.

Introduction

In coastal areas like Contai, exploitation of groundwater for various human uses like agricultural, municipal and industrial applications are severely hampered by the encroachment of saline water in response to freshwater withdrawals. Sometimes, this may introduce serious adverse consequences. The reasons by which freshwater aquifers are contaminated by saline water intrusion are numerous. Some of them are: pumping of freshwater initiating lateral or horizontal intrusion and vertical intrusion with upcoming, cross-aquifer contamination caused by wells open to multiple aquifers, climate change initiating rise in sea water level, thereby pushing back the fresh water zones, etc.

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