Abstract:
Groundwater exploration and management are critical due to the
increasing demand and over-exploitation of this vital resource. Electrical
resistivity surveying, a geophysical method, has proven to be an effective
technique for subsurface investigations, including groundwater detection. This
thesis presents the application of electrical resistivity methods in groundwater
exploration in Perumatty Grama Panchayath, Palakkad, Kerala.
The methodology involved Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and
resistivity imaging to identify and delineate groundwater potential zones. A total
of 13 locations were surveyed using the Schlumberger electrode configuration.
The resistivity data were interpreted using IPI2WIN software, resulting in the
identification of three types of sounding curves: H-type, K-type, and A-type.
H-type curves (ρ1 > ρ2 < ρ3) were observed in five locations (L4, L7, L8,
L9, and L11), indicating good aquifer characteristics with lower resistivity in the
middle layer. K-type curves (ρ1 < ρ2 > ρ3) were found in five locations (L1, L3,
L6, L10, and L13), showing high resistivity in the middle layer, indicating hard
rock formations with clayey soil in the top and bottom layers. A-type curves (ρ1 <
ρ2 < ρ3) were observed in three locations (L2, L5, and L12), indicating hard rock
in the third layer and clayey soil in the first and second layers.
The study successfully identified aquifer zones and provided insights into
the subsurface geology of Perumatty Grama Panchayath. The H-type and A-type
locations showed comparatively higher groundwater potential in both the top and
middle layers. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of electrical resistivity
methods in hydro-geological studies and highlight their importance in sustainable
groundwater resource management. The results suggest that the electrical
resistivity method is a reliable tool for identifying groundwater potential zones,
which is essential for effective groundwater management in the study area.
