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Hydrological Modeling of Aquifer’s Recharge and Discharge Potential by Coupling WetSpass and MODFLOW for the Chaj Doab, Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Aslam

    (Department of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Arshad

    (Department of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Vijay P. Singh

    (Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Muhammad Adnan Shahid

    (Department of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
    Agricultural Remote Sensing Lab (ARSL), National Center of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA), Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

Abstract

The estimation of the groundwater (GW) potential in irrigated areas is crucial for the sustainable management of water resources in order to ensure its sustainable use. This study was conducted in a selected area of the Chaj doab, Punjab, Pakistan, to quantify the impacts of the pumping and the recharge on the aquifer therein. To that end, a groundwater flow model (MODFLOW) and a groundwater recharge model (WetSpass) were coupled to assess the conditions of the aquifer. The model was calibrated manually on twelve-year data (2003–2014) against the observed groundwater levels, and it was validated with five-year data (2015–2019). Three main scenarios (divided into ten subscenarios) were simulated for the future prediction of the groundwater: Scenario-I (to assess the impact of the pumping if the prevailing conditions of the years from 2003 to 2019 were to continue until 2035); Scenario-II (to assess the impact of the pumping on the aquifer by increasing the pumping capacity by 25, 50, 75, and 100% for the coming 10 years); and Scenario-III (to assess the impact on the aquifer of the decrease in the average groundwater recharge from the river by 50% by following the same pumping trend). The Scenario-I results show that there would be an 18.1 m decrease in the groundwater table at the end of the year 2035. The Scenario-II results predict decreases in the water table by 2.0, 5.5, 9.8, and 14.3 m in the year 2029 as a result of increases in the pumping capacity of 25, 50, 75, and 100%, respectively. The results of Scenario-III show that, with the decrease in the recharge from the rainfall, there would be a 0.7 m decrease in the water table, and that, from open-water bodies, there would be a 2.4 m decrease in the water table. These results are very helpful for determining the recharge and discharge potential of the aquifer.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Aslam & Muhammad Arshad & Vijay P. Singh & Muhammad Adnan Shahid, 2022. "Hydrological Modeling of Aquifer’s Recharge and Discharge Potential by Coupling WetSpass and MODFLOW for the Chaj Doab, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4421-:d:789183
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Asad Qureshi & Peter McCornick & A. Sarwar & Bharat Sharma, 2010. "Challenges and Prospects of Sustainable Groundwater Management in the Indus Basin, Pakistan," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(8), pages 1551-1569, June.
    2. Jehangir, Waqar & Qureshi, Asad Sarwar & Ali, Nazim, 2002. "Conjunctive water management in the Rechna Doab: An overview of resources and issues," IWMI Working Papers H038778, International Water Management Institute.
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