Hydrological Characterization of Budge Budge and Dum Dum Areas of South and North 24 Parganas Districts, West Bengal Using Geoelectric and Geochemical Methods

Abstract: Integrated geoelectric, geological and geochemical investigations are carried out in Budge Budge and Dum Dum areas of south and north 24 Parganas district for ascertaining the prevailing hydrological condition and aquifer characteristic with chemical qualities of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. The proposed areas are constituted of alluvium and marine sediments of Quaternary age being a part of Gangetic delta. Vertical electrical soundings (VES) of Budge Budge have delineated four to six layers consisting of top soils, the brackish water zone, clay layer, first fresh water zone, another clay layer and the bottom-most(sixth layer) second fresh water bearing zone. The first fresh water zone is located at a depth of 128 m with thickness of 43 m having…