Hydrogeomorphological Mapping Using Geospatial Techniques for Identifying Groundwater Potential Zones in Chittur Block, Kerala

Abstract

This study delineated groundwater potential zones in the Chittur Block of Palakkad District, Kerala, using an integrated hydrogeomorphological and geospatial approach. The hard rock terrain of the region faces acute water scarcity due to limited surface water, increasing anthropogenic stress and over-exploitation of groundwater. Thematic layers such as geology, geomorphology, slope, drainage density, lineament density, and land use/land cover were derived from remote sensing data and are integrated within a GIS framework using the Weighted Index Overlay Analysis (WIOA) technique to identify groundwater potential zones. Thematic layers geology, geomorphology and lineament were collected from KSREC, Trivandrum and clipped to study area and rest layers were prepared using DEM in ArcGIS. The analysis indicated that hydrogeomorphological and structural features significantly influence groundwater occurrence and movement. Valley floors and floodplains exhibited high recharge potential owing to their permeability and infiltration capacity, whereas pediment zones showed moderate potential and suitability for artificial recharge. Lineament-dense areas enhanced groundwater flow and storage connectivity. The resulting groundwater potential zonation map classified the study area into five categories, excellent (5.57%), very good (36.81%), good (116.26%), moderate (95.82%) and poor (16.59%), with most of the region falling under good to moderate potential zones. The groundwater levels also revealed that shallow water levels seen in good and very good zones and deeper water levels were seen in moderate and poor zones. The study highlighted that integrating hydrogeomorphological parameters with GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation offers an effective tool for groundwater exploration and sustainable water resource management in hard rock terrains.