What are Best Tools & Software for Conducting Geological Assessment of Subsoils for Rainwater Harvesting?

We are working with ultra poor women farmers across India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Africa to ensure them better rainwater management for food security and disaster risk reduction. In that process, every time we need to depend upon government system for geological analysis of the subsoil up to a depth of 1000 ft. The reason for this analysis is to find the best suitable strata for rainwater harvesting and post harvesting drafting. 

We have observed that our women members are now well versed in water management but they need to learn the geophysical data collection process and then if possible to analyse it with the help of local engineers. 

For that we are looking to invest resources for best available equipment/processes and its/their usage by local communities.

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Taxonomy

• Soil
• Water Harvesting
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Water Harvesting Structure Design
• Soil & Water Assessment Tools
• Soil Management
• Water Harvesting

4 Answers

1. Based on various Field Survey Groundwater contouring can be done by using Software’s to identify regional as well as local groundwater flow direction and delineate contaminants pathways. In this longitude & latitude of groundwater well is determined using GPS. Groundwater monitoring involves, the continuous monitoring of production, water quality and water levels in water wells. With the help of monitoring we can determine the annual and long term changes in groundwater storage, estimate recharge rate and can also determine the direction and gradient of groundwater flow. Hence proper design & identification of monitoring wells is very necessary. Beside that groundwater monitoring is also a mandatory condition for industries having MOEF and CGWA clearance.

   Advantages of Rainwater harvesting:

   There are various advantages of Rain Water recharging from which some of those are listed below:

   • Groundwater is not directly exposed to evaporation and pollution
   • The aquifer serves as distribution system also
   • Mitigates the effects of drought
   • Effective rise in ground water levels
   • It’s economical and energy saving as it prevents extraction of water from depleting ground water table
   • Reduce soil erosion
   • It reduces flood hazards
   • Storing water underground is environmental friendly

   Methods and Technique

   The methods of groundwater recharge mainly are:

    

   Urban areas

   Roof top rainwater/Strom run off harvesting through

   • Recharge Pit
   • Recharge trench
   • Tube well
   • Recharge wel

   Rural areas

   Rainwater Harvesting through

   • Gully Plug
   • Contour band
   • Gabion Structure
   • Percolation Tank
   • Check Dam / Cement Plug / Nala Bund
   • Recharge Shaft
   • Dug well Recharge
   • Groundwater Dams / Subsurface Dyke

    

2. I think this question has not conveyed the desired solution sought. Looking for software or geological investigation to manage rainwater in the subsoil gives the impression that the question is seeking to know more about groundwater. Obviously rainwater is part of water cycle as precipitation. Rainwater harvesting is usually evaluated in-situ as the volume of water from the rainfall can be calculated and managed. However the evaluation of groundwater requires multiple approaches in which surface geophysical studies like vertical electrical Resistivity survey comes to mind very quickly.T his study requires the presence of an experienced Geologist or better still Geophysicist to generate reliable result as this is a professional approaches and not all comers affair.

   1 Comment

   1. Apart from Investigations as above,,Knowledge of water bearing strata/aquifer and their extent above the ground water table would helpful in quantifying rainwater recharge potential during  rainy or post rainy season. Existing dry  dug wells with appropriate filters may be taken on priority without much of geological investigations..

3. look @    www.metergroup.com    for sensors and dataloggers

4. This is not directly related to your question, but I thought you might be interested in ConserWater. ConserWater helps farmers reduce their irrigation water use by 30% in a scalable and cost-effective manner with Artificial Intelligence (AI). See conserwater.com for more information. It is also applicable to poor farmers, who can even use it for free!