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Hydrogeologic characteristics of groundwater aquifers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

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Abstract

This paper reviews, compiles and comprehensively analyzes spatial variations in hydrogeologic characteristics of shallow and deep groundwater aquifers in Kathmandu Valley. To estimate transmissivity (T) (and then hydraulic conductivity) as a function of specific capacity (SC), an empirical relationship between T and SC is developed for shallow and deep aquifer. The results show that T and SC are log linearly related by an equation T = 0.8857(SC)1.1624 [R 2 = 0.79] in shallow and T = 1.1402(SC)1.0068 [R 2 = 0.85] in deep aquifer. The estimated T ranges from 163 to 1,056 m2/day in shallow aquifer and 22.5 to 737 m2/day in deep aquifer. Finally, mapping of spatial distribution in hydrogeologic characteristics (thickness, T, hydraulic conductivity and storage coefficient) in shallow and deep aquifers are accomplished using ArcGIS9.2 and such maps would be useful in delineating potential areas for groundwater development and simulating groundwater flow in the aquifer system.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Japanese Government (Monbukagakusyo: MEXT), the GCOE Program of University of Yamanashi for supporting this study; and several organizations in Nepal (e.g. Groundwater Research and Development Project/Department of Irrigation, Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project-Kathmandu, CEMAT Consulting Company, NISAKU drilling company-branch office Kathmandu, National drilling company-Kathmandu, Sagarmatha drilling company, Department of Mines and Geology-Kathmandu, Integrated Rural Development Services Nepal) for kindly providing data and information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, Department of Eco-social System Engineering, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11, Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan

    Vishnu Prasad Pandey

  2. International Research Center for River Basin Environment (ICRE), University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11, Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan

    Futaba Kazama

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  1. Vishnu Prasad Pandey
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Correspondence to Vishnu Prasad Pandey.

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Pandey, V.P., Kazama, F. Hydrogeologic characteristics of groundwater aquifers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Environ Earth Sci 62, 1723–1732 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0667-3

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