Promoting Surface Runoff Management for Enhancing Water Security: A Case Study of Solapur District Maharashtra

The present investigation is an attempt to demarcate the micro-watersheds in the Solapur district and prioritize them based on their runoff generation potential. A Digital Elevation Model and a topographic sheet were used for the delineation of the drainage network of the area. A total of 19 micro-watersheds were delineated and all properties affecting the runoff generation of these watersheds were analyzed. The land use/cover maps were used to calculate the curve numbers of the micro-watersheds using Soil Conservation Services curve number method, and runoff was determined using daily rainfall data for six year duration. Based on the runoff generation potential and ease of handling the generated runoff for groundwater recharging, the micro-watersheds were prioritized. Results showed that out of the delineated watersheds, five watersheds have good runoff generation potentials as their curve number values are higher as compared to the remaining watersheds. Surface runoff for these best five potential watersheds varies from 5.56 to 12.73 million cubic meter. Therefore, the surface runoff generated by the best five micro-watersheds can be used for the groundwater recharging and for non-potable purposes after some primary treatment. This showed that the remote sensing and Geographical Information System applications in combination with the Soil Conservation Services curve number method can be used for the estimation the runoff generation potential of the watersheds, for the management and enhancement of the water security. © 2023, The Institution of Engineers (India).