Unconfined ground water distribution in sprin vally area, in Badulla district, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This research study was conducted in Uva province of Sri Lanka which is located in the Badullu oya Basin. This study was aimed to identify the behavior of the groundwater quality changes, present groundwater level fluctuations and groundwater consumption of the region. The groundwater distribution study was carried out in Sprin Vally, Badulla district, Sri Lanka for understanding the level of groundwater utilization. The area is covered by sedimentary soil deposits underlain by hard ciystalline rock formations and groundwater occur both weathered formations as well as from top soil deposits. This study was conducted in two different seasons on post monsoon and dry season. Dug well monitoring was conducted for a 11-month period starting from April 2007, selecting 20 ordinary dug wells with respect to Electrical conductivity (EC), pH and ground water level. The results of the study help to prepare groundwater distribution maps for the wet and dry seasons using the GIS package Arcview and help to identify groundwater availability of the area. The Regime of unconfined quaternary aquifer groundwater level intimately is related with the atmospheric precipitation. The study revealed that groundwater level changes directly related with atmospheric precipitation and topographical changes of the study area. During the study period EC values have not significantly changed with precipitation.