Abstract

Climate-induced water scarcity is a growing problem in semi-arid regions like Peshawar basin, Pakistan. The present study integrates geophysical, pumping test, and physicochemical and geospatial datasets to categorize the stressed aquifer in Peshawar Basin, a part of “One Belt one road system”. Previous studies in the area have solely focused on water quality deterioration using geochemical tools only. The present study integrates multiple tools to assess the interaction of the surface and subsurface water. Furthermore, the study provides a controlled tool prediction mechanism for aquifer transmissivity instead of cost-effective pumping test. The results are achieved by utilizing 13 Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) points, pumping data of 16 wells, and physiochemical data of 108 surface and groundwater samples. The spatio-temporal variations of hydraulic properties using inverse distance weightage tool (IDW) played a role for zonation. An unconfined quaternary alluvial aquifer was identified with thickness ranging 6.32–341 m comprising of gravels whose thickness is decreasing towards the eastern part in the study area. The high values of longitudinal conductance and weak-to-moderate protective capacity marks the vulnerable aquifer in Maini, Kotha and Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate. The data also revealed increased clay content in eastern part of study area resulting in decreased Transmissivity and Specific Capacity. Increased Total Dissolved Solvents (TDS) in post-monsoon water samples is contributed by high clay content. The spatio-temporal variations of parameters helped in differentiation of the anthropogenic and geogenic sources of contamination. The physiochemical and microbial analysis concluded that water of the area is not suitable for drinking, as results are exceeding the WHO guidelines. The results can be judiciously used in planning and development of the groundwater resources in Quaternary basins of the world.

中文翻译：

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利用地球物理、地理空间和水文地质研究对巴基斯坦白沙瓦盆地的地下水特征进行研究

摘要

在巴基斯坦白沙瓦盆地等半干旱地区，气候引起的水资源短缺是一个日益严重的问题。本研究综合了地球物理、抽水测试、物理化学和地理空间数据集，对白沙瓦盆地（“一带一路”系统的一部分）的受压含水层进行了分类。该地区之前的研究仅集中于仅使用地球化学工具来研究水质恶化。本研究集成了多种工具来评估地表水和地下水的相互作用。此外，该研究为含水层透射率提供了一种受控工具预测机制，而不是具有成本效益的抽水测试。这些结果是通过利用 13 个垂直电测深 (VES) 点、16 个井的抽水数据以及 108 个地表水和地下水样本的物理化学数据来获得的。使用反距离权重工具（IDW）的水力特性的时空变化在分区中发挥了作用。研究区发现了一个厚度为 6.32-341 m 的无承压第四系冲积含水层，由砾石组成，其厚度向研究区东部递减。纵向电导率较高，保护能力弱到中等，标志着Maini、Kotha 和Gadoon Amazai 工业区含水层脆弱。数据还显示研究区域东部粘土含量增加，导致透射率和比容量下降。季风后水样中的总溶解溶剂 (TDS) 增加是由于高粘土含量造成的。参数的时空变化有助于区分人为和地理污染源。理化和微生物分析得出的结论是，该地区的水不适合饮用，因为结果超出了世界卫生组织的指导方针。研究结果可明智地用于世界第四纪盆地地下水资源的规划和开发。