SVN Rao

Floods are common in most parts of India particularly during the monsoon season. Flood control and mitigation involves flood plain mapping, zoning, insuring and warning systems as floods cannot be avoided. These measures minimize damage and loss in terms of life and property. In this regard real-time data based decision supports systems (DSS) are crucial for effective flood management.

The subsurface aquifer systems in Mahanadi delta region in Orissa (India) is largely characterized by two groups of freshwater aquifer systems, both of which are prone to saline water mixing/migration with time and development:

• The south western Mahanadi delta region is represented by unconfined to semi-confined freshwater aquifers underlained by brackish/saline aquifer systems with a diffusion boundary.
• The north eastern parts of Mahanadi delta is represented by deep freshwater confined aquifers overlained by brackish/saline water aquifers with aquitard/ aquiclude boundary.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Groundwater models simulate groundwater flow in sub-surface aquifers in terms of quantity (level) and quality (such as salinity) using the mathematical or numerical approach. When a Groundwater model is embedded in a management framework these are often referred as managment models.

Often groundwater pumping is undertaken assuming the resource to be infinite. This myth has been shattered in the last few decades with increasing scarcity and deterioration in terms of quality as a consequence of over-exploitation and mismanagement of this resource to meet competing demands for drinking water and other needs in urban cities. However, managing groundwater is not an easy task.