• Evaluation of Recharge from Reservoirs Using Stable Isotopes in the Catchment Area of River Musi, Hyderabad, India

• Isotopic Investigation on Salinity Intrusion through Beeyam Kayal, Ponnani and a Study on the Hydrochemical Characteristics of Groundwater

• Water Quality Assessment of Vembanad Wetland System – Isotope Studies

• Isotopic Investigation on the Physical and Chemical Processes Leading to the Formation and Dissipation of the Mudbanks off the Malabar Coast of the Indian Peninsula

• Isotope Tracer Studies on Surface Water - Groundwater Interconnection along River Chaliyar in the Midland Region of Kozhikode

• Geochemical and Isotopic Characterization of Groundwater in Multi Aquifer System along Alleppey Coast, Kerala

• An Investigation on Isotopic Composition of Precipitation, Surface and Subsurface Water and Their Inter Relationship

• Delineation, Demarcation and Monitoring of Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers

Evaluation of Recharge from Reservoirs Using Stable Isotopes in the Catchment Area of    River Musi, Hyderabad, India

• To estimate the values of stable isotopes in the reservoir water and in the groundwater down stream of the reservoirs


• To interpret the results of the stable isotope measurements thereby estimating the influence of the reservoir in recharging the groundwater


• To determine the effect of recharge on control of groundwater pollution due to Musi River, which carry sewage

Period: November, 2004 to October, 2009

Salient Observations:

• A few deep wells showed depleted 18O (‰) content as well as low chloride concentration indicating failure of recharge for deeper section of the strata
  
  
• Shallow wells showed negative δ18O (‰) and low chloride (<200ppm) indicating present faster recharge

Isotopic Investigation on Salinity Intrusion through Beeyam Kayal, Ponnani and a Study on    the Hydrochemical Characteristics of Groundwater

Principal Investigator:
Dr K Gopalakrishna,
P G Department of Applied Geology M E S College,
Ponnani South (PO),
Malappuram District- 679 586

Objectives:

• To examine the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in Ponnani area
  
  
• To elucidate the influence of saline water intrusion through Beeyam Kayal in this urban area using isotope technique

Period: November, 2004 to October, 2009

Salient Observations:

• It was found that water quality in open wells depends on the subsurface geology and depth of wells
  
  
• Ingress of saline water through Beeyam Kayal is found to be influencing the general quality of water in the study area.


• The preliminary results of isotope analysis also point to this

Water Quality Assessment of Vembanad Wetland System – Isotope Studies

Objectives:

• To assess the water quality status of Vembanad Wetland System
  
  
• To study the effect of pollution of the lake due to agrochemicals such as nitrates and sulphates and pesticides using isotope techniques

Salient Observations:

• Physico-chemical and microbiological status of the Vembanad wetland system is found to be impaired by pollutants
  


• Determination of nutrient concentrations reveals that the lake has reached a hyper-eutrophic stage at Punnamada


• The geochemical analyses of the core sediments of Vembanad lake reveals that the lake is blanketed with highly nutrient rich, acidic, sand dominated sediments, which are polluted by heavy metals


• The sedimentation rate of Vembanad Lake is found to be 0.51 cm/year
  


• The isotope data showed the dynamic nature of the lake with respect to both stations and season with the post monsoon dominating in freshwater component and pre monsoon characterized with estuarine mixed water


• The enrichment and depletion in the d values is due to the change from high tide to low tide and the variation also showed the evaporation effect of the aquatic system

Isotopic Investigation on the Physical and Chemical Processes Leading to the Formation    and Dissipation of the Mudbanks off the Malabar Coast of the Indian Peninsula

Principal Investigator:
Sri M R Venugopal,
Scientist,
Centre for Water Resources Development and Management,
Kozhikode- 673 571

Objectives:

• To find out the physical and chemical composition of the sediments which form mud banks


• To find out the source of sediments and its transportation processes


• To study the isotopic composition of water associated with mud bank through the sediment route to find out the source of freshwater at the mud bank


• To study the dissipation and movement process of mud bank using artificial isotope

Period: November, 2004 to October, 2009

Salient Observations:

• The composition of the mud banks is predominantly silt with lesser proportion of clay and fine sand.


• The size gradation studies strongly indicate the possibility of mud supply by the river discharges.


• Chemical characterization of the constituents of sediment materials indicates the presence of fatty acids and some chemical entities of plant origin

Isotopic Investigation of Kozhikode Urban Area with Special Reference to Surface and    Groundwater Hydrology

Principal Investigator:
K Saseendran,
Department of Civil Engineering,
NIT - C, Kozhikode

Objectives:

• To study the isotopic composition of precipitation, surface and subsurface water in the urban region of Kozhikode


• To establish the inter relationship between surface and subsurface water in the area


• To study the influence of the river Korapuzha in the North and Kallayi river in the South on the groundwater hydrology of the city


• To study the influence of Canolly canal on pollution of groundwater in the city and the surrounding area


• To study the salinity intrusion in the region and the influence of the rivers Kallayi, Korapuzha and Canolly Canal

Period: November, 2004 to October, 2009

Salient Observations:

• Isotopic and chemical characterization of surface and groundwater of Kozhikode urban area are partly achieved

Isotope Tracer Studies on Surface Water - Groundwater Interconnection along River Chaliyar in the Midland Region of Kozhikode

Principal Investigator:
Dr A Shahul Hameed,
Scientist,
Centre for Water Resources Development and Management,
Kozhikode – 673 571

Objectives:

• To study the interconnection between the river and groundwater using stable isotope technique
  
  
• To evaluate the percentage contribution of river to groundwater and vice versa in different seasons

Period: November, 2004 to October, 2009

Salient Observations:

• Baseline data on stable isotope ratios of Oxygen (d18O) and Hydrogen (dD) of surface and groundwater sources in Chaliyar River basin was generated and recharge pattern was assessed.


• Hydrochemistry of shallow and deep groundwater sources in the study area was investigated and the temporal and spatial variations in water quality were established.


• Locations of direct recharge from precipitation and recharge through streams were identified using isotope data.


• Areas showing interconnection between shallow and deep aquifers were identified.


• During post-monsoon period, over 80% of the wells in the midland region of the basin are found to be recharged by direct precipitation.

Geochemical and Isotopic Characterization of Groundwater in Multi Aquifer System along    Alleppey Coast, Kerala

Principal Investigator:
Dr. C. Unnikrishnan Warrier,
Scientist,
Centre for Water Resources Development and Management,
Kozhikode – 673 571

Objectives:

• Determination of geochemical characteristics of groundwater and their interrelationship in the multi-aquifer system, along Alleppey coast through isotope technique


• To examine the vulnerability of fresh water aquifers in this multilayered aquifer system through their interrelationship and geochemical movement

Salient Observations:

• The coastal terrains of Alleppey indicate a freshwater flushing pattern with recharging water moving from southeast to the northwest direction


• The seawater-freshwater interface may be offshore in southern Kerala


• The groundwater quality from Warkali formation shows a pronounced zonation


• The groundwater in the Warkali and Vaikom formations ranges in age between 22,000 – 33,000 BP

An Investigation on Isotopic Composition of Precipitation, Surface and Subsurface Water    and Their Inter Relationship

Principal Investigator:
Dr. C. Unnikrishnan Warrier,
Scientist ,
Centre for Water Resources Development and Management,
Kozhikode – 673 571

Objectives:

• To find out the Tritium, Oxygen-18 and Deuterium content present in the rainwater received during different rainy seasons in the region proposed and


• To study their variation in relation to season, topography, geographical location and distance from the sea


• To study the distribution of the above isotopes in surface and groundwater sources


• To establish the linkage between the surface and groundwater sources which may be useful for further investigation on water resources programme
  
  

Salient Observations:

• Generation of Local Meteoric Water Line from the database of IAEA/GNIP and at IHD, CWRDM for the periods 1998-2002 and 2005-2006 respectively


• Environmental stable isotopes (D & 18O) exhibited a regular trend in precipitation waters with depletion in summer months followed by enrichment in southwest monsoon and again depletion during the northeast monsoon season


• Temporal variation of natural tritium content in precipitation is estimated