Seeing Beneath the Surface: 3D Aquifer Modelling for Smarter Water Management.
An interview with Dr.Sezina Bhimani,, Geohydrologist, Geo Science Services, Bhuj, Gujarat, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sazina-bhimani-96b17718/ )
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1. Groundwater is being exploited at an alarming rate. Why is it important to understand aquifer interconnectivity, and why do we need more intensive research in this area? Data are available in silos and not in connected or integrated form. Why is there a need for a common data and analysis platform?
1. Groundwater is being exploited at an alarming rate. Why is it important to understand aquifer interconnectivity, and why do we need more intensive research in this area? Data are available in silos and not in connected or integrated form. Why is there a need for a common data and analysis platform?
Groundwater is one of the most valuable yet least understood natural resources because it exists beneath the Earth's surface within aquifers. Its occurrence, storage, movement and quality are governed by the geological setting, which varies from region to region. Therefore, understanding an aquifer's extent, hydraulic properties, and interconnectivity is fundamental to sustainable groundwater management. Since aquifers are interconnected natural systems, groundwater extraction in one location can influence water availability and quality far beyond administrative boundaries. Without understanding these connections, local groundwater development may unintentionally lead to long-term depletion and degradation of the larger aquifer system.
A common misconception is that groundwater is an unlimited resource. In reality, aquifer storage is finite, and continuous extraction higher than the natural recharge gradually depletes this reserve. Unlike surface water, groundwater systems are invisible and require scientific investigations such as aquifer mapping, hydrogeological studies, groundwater monitoring, and numerical modelling to understand their behaviour and determine sustainable management strategies.
Equally important is the integration of groundwater information. Although valuable data are generated by multiple agencies and organizations, they often remain fragmented and stored in isolated systems. Since aquifers extend across villages, blocks and districts groundwater cannot be effectively managed through isolated datasets or administrative boundaries. A common data and analysis platform can integrate geological, hydrological, recharge-discharge and monitoring information into a unified framework. This would enable scientists, planners, and users to visualize the complete aquifer system, improve groundwater assessments, support evidence-based decision-making, and promote coordinated groundwater governance. Ultimately, sustainable groundwater management depends not only on generating scientific knowledge but also on connecting data, integration and visualization of data, institutions, and stakeholders around a common understanding of the aquifer system.
2. What are the challenges for communities in adopting new processes and technologies? What can be done to accelerate this?
2. What are the challenges for communities in adopting new processes and technologies? What can be done to accelerate this?
Groundwater management is challenging because the resource is invisible and its behaviour varies from one region to another depending on geology, hydrogeology, climate, and its use. As a result, communities often rely on experience rather than scientific understanding, and solutions that work in one area may not be suitable elsewhere.
Although scientific tools such as aquifer mapping, groundwater monitoring, and modelling have significantly improved our understanding, the information often remains confined to technical institutions. Bridging this gap requires translating complex science into simple, user-friendly tools that communities can easily understand and apply. Interactive visualization tools, real-time monitoring, GIS, and digital decision-support systems can help communities visualize their aquifer and make informed decisions.
At the same time, technology alone is not enough. Continuous capacity building, participatory learning, and strong local leadership are equally important. When communities understand their aquifer through local data and simple scientific tools, they become active partners in sustainable groundwater management rather than just users of the resource.
3.Tell us about yourself. What motivated you to become the only woman PhD hydrogeologist working in the Kutch region? Please share your 20 years of experience in the field. What challenges have you faced and what has been your most satisfying moment?
3.Tell us about yourself. What motivated you to become the only woman PhD hydrogeologist working in the Kutch region? Please share your 20 years of experience in the field. What challenges have you faced and what has been your most satisfying moment?
I come from a middle-class rural family, where I grew up witnessing the interconnection of natural resources and rural livelihoods. Although I had initially planned a career in teaching, geology fascinated me during my undergraduate studies and completely changed my career path. Soon after completing my master's degree, I joined as a geologist—a decision that became the turning point of my professional life.
Working in the arid region of Kachchh, where hydrogeology was considered a male-dominated field, was both challenging and motivating. Many questioned whether a woman could succeed in such a technical and field-oriented profession, but those challenges strengthened my determination to excel. Under the guidance of Dr. Yogesh Jadeja and Prof. K. C. Tiwari, I pursued my Ph.D. in hydrogeology with the vision of improving groundwater management and water security in my own region.
Over the past 20 years, I have worked in geo-hydrological studies, aquifer mapping, watershed management, groundwater monitoring, and participatory groundwater management. One of my biggest learnings is that groundwater management is not just a scientific challenge but also a social one. Scientific knowledge creates real impact only when it is translated into simple tools that communities can understand and use.
The most rewarding part of my journey has been witnessing villages become more water secure through scientific planning and community participation. Seeing groundwater management improve people's lives continues to inspire and motivate me to work towards sustainable and inclusive water management.
4. How do you see the role of women at grassroots in this domain at village or cluster level and how should we empower them?
4. How do you see the role of women at grassroots in this domain at village or cluster level and how should we empower them?
Women are central to sustainable groundwater management because they are the primary managers of water at the household level and actively contribute to agriculture, and livestock management. Their daily engagement with water gives them valuable insights into changes in water availability and quality, making them effective custodians of groundwater resources.
In my experience, women are disciplined, responsible, and committed to community initiatives. With appropriate training, they can serve as Bhujal Jankars or community groundwater volunteers, supporting groundwater monitoring, water budgeting, and resource conservation. In agriculture, they can also promote demand-side management practices such as water-efficient cropping, seed preservation, compost preparation, and soil moisture conservation.
To realize this potential, women need more than representation—they need systematic capacity building, access to simple scientific and digital tools, and opportunities to participate in local decision-making. Strengthening women's collectives, ensuring convergence with Gram Panchayats, and creating dedicated platforms for participation can transform them from water users into informed groundwater managers. Empowering women is therefore not only a matter of inclusion but also a key strategy for achieving long-term groundwater sustainability and village water security.
5. What can the partnership between ACT and WIN do for the above challenges?
5. What can the partnership between ACT and WIN do for the above challenges?
The groundwater challenges we face today cannot be addressed by a single institution or discipline. They require partnerships that bring together science, technology, governance, and community participation. I believe the collaboration between ACT and WIN has the potential to become such a platform.
In my view, the greatest contribution of the ACT–WIN partnership would be the creation of an integrated groundwater management ecosystem—where scientific research informs policy, digital tools support decision-making, institutions collaborate through shared knowledge platforms, and communities actively participate in managing their aquifers with their local data only. It will create ownership and trust among the community. Such a model can serve as a blueprint for sustainable groundwater management not only in India but also in other water-stressed regions facing similar challenges.
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