Demarcation of Groundwater Potential Zones by Electrical Resistivity Survey (ERS) Islamabad, Pakistan

A newly developed D-12 housing sector is at the Margalla foot-hills in Islamabad. This housing sector is facing tremendous groundwater problem due to frequent dry boreholes. After conducting the reconnaissance survey, data from the already drilled wells were recorded at different points throughout the study area for measuring average water table and the average total depth. The electrical resistivity survey was conducted in the sector for exploration of groundwater at six different locations with the help of SAS 4000 Terameter using Schlumberger configuration. The acquired data were used to determine the true resistivity on the basis of standard curves. The curves were matched with the borehole data and the surface geological map to prepare lithologic columns based on the true resistivities. Two zones have been categorized for future domestic use, i.e. prospective and non-prospective. The study shows dependence of localization of the aquifers upon the fault-related folding of the area. The aquifers are of two types i.e. shallow unconfined and deeper confined. The unconfined aquifers are found in the alluvium, whereas the confined aquifers are found in the sands of the Murree Formation. The confining beds constitute Murree clays and the shales