Research Projects

Groundwater plays a crucial role in India's water supply system, with wells and springs providing significant water supply to rural areas. However, increasing environmental activities, such as urbanization, changing precipitation patterns, and cryosphere shrinkage, have led to water scarcity. This presents a significant challenge for water resource managers, as river and stream systems may not be able to meet global water demands in the coming decades. Freshwater from aquifers can help alleviate this crisis by implementing effective aquifer-based plans to ensure the sustainability of groundwater. Artificial recharge, including groundwater augmentation over spring recharge zones, can revitalize groundwater reserves. Addressing the climatic impact on groundwater resources is critical for sustainable development. Field-based geophysical methods, which require extensive fieldwork and high instrumentation costs, are less applicable to mountains due to their geomorphological characteristics. The use of environmental isotopes in conjunction with hydrogeology and hydrochemistry can improve artificial recharge effectiveness by establishing and delineating spring capture zones. Researchers have used these techniques to determine groundwater recharge pathways and sources, understand the importance of aquifer replenishment recharge by precipitation, and assess aquifer functioning through hydraulic behavior from springs and wells. This study proposes using hydrogeological and environmental tracers to determine recharge zones and sources in the lower Himalayan region of Dehradun district (Uttarakhand). The study will assess groundwater vulnerability, develop methods for augmentation or artificial recharging, and prevent further degradation of groundwater quality.