Science in Action Series

Understanding the Hidden Water Beneath Our Feet

Groundwater provides nearly 60% of India's irrigation needs and around 85% of rural drinking water. However, increasing demand, erratic rainfall, climate change, and over-extraction are placing immense pressure on this invisible resource. While surface water can be seen and monitored, groundwater remains hidden beneath the earth, making it difficult to understand how it is stored, replenished, and used.

In semi-arid regions like Kutch, where rainfall is low and highly variable, sustainable groundwater management requires a scientific understanding of the underground aquifer system. Conventional groundwater assessments often rely on scattered datasets, making it challenging to visualize the complete picture and support informed decision-making.

Water resources lie both above and beneath the ground, yet understanding their interaction is essential for sustainable management. This initiative develops a comprehensive 3D hydrogeological model of the Kankavati stretch to map aquifers, identify surface water bodies, analyze groundwater flow and recharge zones, and predict seasonal and long-term water availability. By integrating geological, hydrological, and spatial data, the model transforms complex information into actionable insights, enabling evidence-based planning, climate resilience, and long-term water security.

A New Approach to Water Intelligence

To address this challenge, WIN Foundation, in collaboration with Arid Communities & Technologies (ACT), Bhuj, has initiated an innovative project to develop a 3D hydrogeological model of the Kankavati Stretch.

The project integrates geological information, groundwater monitoring data, rainfall records, surface water features, GIS, remote sensing, and hydrogeological observations into a single three-dimensional digital framework. The model will reveal how groundwater moves beneath the surface, how rainfall contributes to recharge, and how surface water and groundwater interact across seasons.

A pilot study is currently underway in the Bidada region, where GIS and GUI-based tools are being used to build and validate the 3D groundwater–surface water model.

What the Model Will Deliver

The project will help:

• Map surface water bodies, underground aquifers and geological formations.

• Identify groundwater flow pathways and recharge zones.

• Estimate seasonal and long-term groundwater levels.

• Understand the interaction between rainfall, surface water bodies, surface water flows (i.e. in rivers and canals), and groundwater aquifers, and aquifer flows.

• Understand water consumption patterns in agriculture, cattle, household and others.

• Incorporate above to build a data-driven decision support system for near real-time sustainable water management.

Towards Smarter Water Management

The 3D hydrogeological model will provide farmers, communities, researchers, planners, and policymakers with a clearer understanding of groundwater availability and future water scenarios. By transforming complex scientific data into actionable insights, the initiative will strengthen climate resilience, improve water-use planning, and support long-term water security.

This pioneering effort represents an important step towards making the invisible visible using science, technology, and geospatial intelligence to ensure sustainable groundwater management for future generations.