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Analysis on Groundwater-table Declination and Quest for Sustainable Water Use in the North-western Region (barind Area) of Bangladesh

Dr. M. H. Ali
SSO
AED, BINA

A.A. Sarkar
CSO
BINA

M.A. Rahman
SSO
BINA

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The availability of adequate freshwater of appropriate quality has become a limiting factor for development worldwide. In the semi-arid and arid regions, where water scarcity was always a dominant problem, the interference with natural system as a result of mining of groundwater resulted also in deterioration of the water quality in addition to sustainability issue. This study presents the trend of historical water-table scenario of north-western semi-arid zone (Barind tract) of Bangladesh and the future scenario using MEKESENS software tool. The study demonstrates that the depth to water-table (WT) is declining for almost all of the wells. In some wells, the depth to WT will be doubled by 2030, and almost all by 2050, if the present trend of withdrawal continues. This situation could be a serious threat to the ecology and sustainability of food production in the region. For sustainable use of the groundwater and to avoid possible irreversible environmental consequences, necessary feasible measures and policy implications are discussed.

Keywords: Groundwater declination, Sustainable water use, Barind tract, Bangladesh

Location: Rajshahi

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

The objectives of the study are:

To analyze the groundwater level decline,and
To predict the groundwater level for the future,
Realize sustainable groundwater use in the region and to help development of a more practical plan.

Methodology:

Pattern of water-table fluctuation: Long-term patterns of water-table are presented graphically to explain the dynamic behavior of groundwater table. To analyze the long-term trend, the yearly maximum depth to water-table was used. Studies of water-table trend: To detect and estimate trends of the water-table, the "MAKESENS" software was used. It utilizes the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test for trend detection, and non-parametric Sen's method for the magnitude of the trend (Salmi et al., 2002). Mann-Kendall test compares the relative magnitudes of sample data rather than the data values themselves.

Source of Information: J. of Agril. Sci. and Applications. 1(1):26-32, (2012)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In this study, water-table (WT) data of 40 observation wells from 08 different Upazila of the Rajshahi district for the period 1985 to 2004 were analyzed to observe the long-term fluctuation patterns and quantitative evaluation of the trends. The hydrographs demonstrate that the depth to WT at the beginning and end of the study period varied with location. The depth to WT showed a sharp declining trend, but with few exceptions. Using the MEKESENS software, long-term projections were performed assuming the present trend of groundwater abstraction. In many cases, the depth will be approximately doubled that at present by the year 2030 if the present trend is continued. As a result, pumping costs will increase. Many other environmental hazards may occur. Therefore, necessary measures should be undertaken to avoid groundwater mining. There is scope to change the monopoly of rice during dry period. Other feasible measures include demand-side management, thereby reducing the dependency on groundwater.

Knowledge Management: Journal, Report/Proceedings