Demarcation of subsurface water storage potential zone and identification of artificial recharge site in Vel River watershed of western India: integrated geospatial and hydrogeological modeling approach

Subsurface water storage potential zone (SWSPz) is used as the source of water for household, agricultural, and industrial activities. The current study uses the integrated approach of geospatial, hydrogeological, and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) based on the influencing parameter for subsurface water storage potential zones and its artificial recharge structure in western India's semi-arid watershed. The thematic map of the influencing parameter will be created using remote sensing data, secondary data, and maps of topography, lithology, drainage density, overland runoff, landform categorization, land use/land cover, type of soil, and vadose zone. The study's findings show that the region’s SWSPz is high in about 14.22% of the area, while groundwater recharge potential is intermediate in about 38.05% of the land and low in about 34.70% and 13.03% of poor the area, respectively. The study's validity was validated by superimposing groundwater level point data onto the final output map, which revealed a good accuracy with the findings. The CGWB approach was also utilized to analyze the surplus water availability, and the findings reveal a vadose area of 40.08 MCM with an artificial recharge of 53.31 MCM. Finally, to recharge the rainwater, suitable site was identified within the study area such as Check dam, Nala bund and percolation tank. The fourteen check dams were identified on third–fourth-order stream present at moderate to high storage potential zone. While twenty-three nala bunds and five percolation ponds were also identified in the study area, it showed good accuracy with ground truth data. In nutshell, to increase the subsurface water potential, the integrated geospatial and hydrogeological modeling approach will be useful for decision makers.