Presentation in

Environmental Engineering on

Use of Wastewater Effluent in

Checking Saline Water Intrusion
into Groundwater Table
 What is Saline Water Intrusion ?

 It is the phenomenon when the Saline Water from an

Oceanic body enters the Underground space which
was previously occupied by Fresh Water.
 It occurs mainly due to anthropogenic reasons ie.
due to uncontrolled human intervention into the
natural ground water flow.
 An imbalance between inflow & extraction of
groundwater in an aquifer leads to Saline Water
Intrusion as the lessening of pore water pressure
after removal of fresh water leads to entry of
brackish water.
 Control of Saline Water Intrusion
>>> Groundwater Recharge <<<

 In order to combat the receding fresh water gradient &

encroaching brackish water, a Hydrostatic Barrier has to
be created in order to balance the Extraction & In-flow of
water into the groundwater aquifer. This is done through
injection of water between the source of extraction of
well-water & the saline water
 However, due to shortage of water & overall escalation of
cost, it becomes inevitable that most favorable input for
Recharge of the Aquifer is Treated Wastewater from a
nearby Water Treatment Plant
 Wastewater, which would otherwise be discharged in
running surface streams of fresh-water or the sea, is thus,
utilized in a fair manner.
 Control of Saline Water Intrusion
>>> Groundwater Recharge (Contd.) <<<

 Natural Groundwater Recharge takes place in an area where

human activities such as industrial processing, agriculture,
domestic practices, etc. are not present. Thus, when water is
withdrawn from an aquifer at a faster rate than it can be
replenished, it leads to lowering of groundwater table &
subsidence of the area due to aquifer collapse.
 Saltwater has greater density. It wedges below the freshwater.
Resultant contamination of well-water by the saline water
leads to various problems at the point of its extraction & use,
such as change in soil pH, unsuitability for drinking purposes,
etc. Ultimately, this can lead to less fertility of the land &
thereby, a change in pattern of Human Habitation. Thus,
Saltwater Intrusion has to checked at sight & in fore-sight.
Profile of the Interface between Fresh & Saline
Water
Salt-water Interface in an unconfined coastal
aquifer

 X- Groundwater Level; Y- SeaLevel

Deep-recharge Well creates a Groundwater Ridge

 The Water Ridge helps in maintaining pore water pressure

& thereby, maintains an isostatic equilibrium
 Situation in India
 Status of Inland Salinity in different affected States
 Pie-diagram shows Percentage of Area in Saline
Conditions out of Total Groundwater-Irrigated Area
 Other Prominent Uses of Effluent Wastewater

 Industries derive more than one-fifth of their Water

Requirements from the Groundwater & the rest from
Surface Water Sources;
 However, Reclaimed Wastewater fetches less than
1% of the Total Industrial Requirement. It is used
mainly for Cooling Tower Systems in Industrial
Units.
 Industrial activities are the major contributors of
harmful constituents in the sewage. Thus, such units
should be made more accountable for safe utilization
of treated wastewater, also.
 Courtesy for Data Sources :

 Textbook of Environmental Engg. by Peavy & Rowe

 Textbook of Environmental Engg. by Metcalf & Eddy
 www.rt.ttu.edu
 www.solinst.com;
 www.cpcbenvis.nic.in;
 www.environmental-expert.com
Thanking You…!!!
Queries requested, if any…?