Assessing the impact of precipitation on hardrock aquifer system using standard precipitation index and groundwater resilience index: a case study of Purulia, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Groundwater stored in the aquifers provides water security during natural hazards, e.g. clean water access during floods and droughts. Groundwater drought, a phenomenon closely linked with rainfall (climate) variability, is less researched, especially in India. This study aims to detect precipitation and groundwater droughts and comprehend the groundwater response to long-term precipitation trends (25 years). As a case study, the drought-affected and groundwater-depleted Purulia district in West Bengal, India, which is a part of the Chotanagpur plateau, was selected. Precipitation and groundwater droughts (in aquifer types of shallow, moderate and deep) are detected using the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) and Groundwater Resilience Index (GRI). During the 25 year study period (1996-2020), Purulia had 13 (52%) rainfall deficiency years, with an annual average rainfall of 1382 mm. SPI detected four severe droughts and the most severe occurring in 2010-2011 (1.50). GRI found that aquifer_medium had a 71% [Formula: see text] conditions and are the most resilient and aquifer_deep experienced maximum extreme drought events and is the most stressed. The cross-correlation coefficients (CCCs) between rainfall and groundwater is moderate in deep, shallow, and medium aquifers, with CCCs - 0.43, - 0.59, and - 0.49, respectively. Positive CCCs are found for seasonal lags of - 3, - 4, and - 7. The study found that during the monsoon, average depth to groundwater level is 1 - 4 m and it drops to 8 - 10 m during the lean period, more than 85% of wells are vulnerable to extreme droughts (SPI > 1.5), aquifer's response to rainfall is aquifer_shallow > aquifer_moderate > aquifer_deep, and aquifer's may be arranged as aquifer_moderate > aquifer_shallow > aquifer_deep depending on their drought resistance. This study, with the use of statistical tools and long term data, will aid in the management of groundwater at varying depths by creating basis for understanding the groundwater response to rainfall events.

Keywords: Cross-correlation; Droughts; Groundwater Resilience Index (GRI); Groundwater depletion; Groundwater response; India; Purulia; Resilient and threatened aquifers.