The study of aquifers potential and contamination based on geoelectric technique and chemical analysis in Mirpur Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

In the study area thirty three Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) were randomly surveyed using the Schlumberger configuration to delineate the aquifer system of Mirpur area in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) Pakistan. The VES curves were interpreted using IPI2WIN software to determine the depth, thickness and true resistivity of the subsurface strata. The subsurface geological model and fence diagrams have been computed by using the rockworks GIS based software. The present study suggested that the aquifers are mostly comprise of boulder gravel and sand in the different areas with variable thickness. The output of the geoelectric data shows a close agreement with boreholes data of the area. The water samples have been collected from different locations and also analyzed to correlate the contamination with the dump sites, foam and automobiles industries waste in the area. The results of the water samples collected near the dump sites are not found satisfactory for the drinking purpose due to high level of TDS and hardness of water. In the study area missing stream link is also demarcated by using the geoelectrical data which is the source of groundwater in the area. The productive groundwater zones are delineated in the north eastern and central part of the study area, whereas aquifer overburden protection capacity in the south eastern part of the area is rated as poor to weak.