Delineation of groundwater recharge potential zones using the modeling based on remote sensing, GIS and MIF techniques: a study of Hamirpur District, Himachal Pradesh, India

The rapid rise in population and industrialization has led to increase in consumption of the groundwater resources for drinking, agricultural and industrial purposes. The main objective of this study is to develop a groundwater recharge potential zone map and recommend sites for constructing artificial recharge structures in the Hamirpur district of northern India using Multi-Influencing Factor (MIF) and Weighted Overlay Index (WOI) techniques based on geographic information system. The groundwater potential zone map was developed by overlaying seven thematic maps, viz. soil texture, slope, land use/land cover, geology, drainage density, lineament density, and geomorphology, and giving appropriate weightage to each significant parameter with respect to its influence on groundwater. The results indicate that in the study area, the groundwater recharge potential was found to be very high in 0.6%, high in 18%, moderate in 72%, poor in 9% and very poor in 0.4% of the total area. Based on the developed groundwater potential zone map, sites for artificial recharge structures were recommended to replenish groundwater in the study area. The findings can be helpful in efficiently planning and managing the groundwater resource development.