Pumping Test Results for Determination of Aquifer Characteristics

and yield calculations for the Proposed 4.0 MLD Water Supply
Scheme for Jarajapupeta (2.0mld) and Kondapeta (2.0mld)in
Champavathi River for Nellimerla Nagar Panchyat, Vizianagaram
District, Andhra Pradesh

TECHNICAL REPORT
2020

Dr .V.Venkateswara Rao
Professor (Retd.), Geo-Engineering, A.U
QCI-NABET Accredited FAE in Geology& Hydrogeology
Visakhapatnam- 530 017
____________________________________________________________________
Submitted to: Commissioner, Nellimerla Nagar Panchyat, Vizianagaram Dt.
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 DEPT. OF GEO-ENGINEERING
A.U. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ANDHRA UNIVERSITY
VISAKHAPATNAM - 530 003

Dr .V.Venkateswara Rao Phone: 0891-2531754

Professor (Retd.), Geo-Engineering, A.U Mob: 9393106937
QCI-NABET Accredited FAE in Geology& Hydrogeology
Plot-119, Sector-4, M.V.P Colony
Visakhapatnam- 530 017
Date: 11-07-2020

Pumping Test Results for Determination of Aquifer Characteristics and yield

calculations for the Proposed 5.0 MLD Water Supply Scheme for
Jarajapupeta (2.0mld) and Kondapeta (3.0mld)in Champavathi River for
Nellimerla Nagar Panchyat, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh

Name of the Client : Municipal Commissioner

Nellimerla Nagar Panchayat,
Vizianagaram Dt.

Location of Site : Champavathi River bed

At Nellimerla,
Vizianagaram Dt.
Jarajapupeta site: Lat:18010’38.4”; Long: 83026’46.6”
Kondapeta site : Lat:18010’14.47”; Long: 83027’12.42”

Reference : Roc .No: 37/2020-21- water supply- DPR- E1, Dt.

18-06-2020

Dates of Testing : 25-06-2020 to 28-06-2020

A. Introduction:
Nellimerla Nagar Panchyat has proposed a water supply scheme for 4.0 MLD that include 2.0
mld to Jarajapupeta village and 2.0 mld to Kondapeta colony & Railway colony. These two
settlements come under Nellimerla nagar panchayat are located on the right and left banks of
Champavathi river. Integrated investigation was carried during the year 2018 that include-
remote sensing, geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, drilling and soil samples analysis at the
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proposed site to identify potential aquifer zone in the Champavathi river bed. River morphology
near Nellimerla is controlled by structural features like folds and faults. Site of investigation for
water resource potential for the proposed settlements mentioned above is shown in fig. 1. The
river portion of about 2km upstream and 1.5km downstream of the rail& road bridges. One of the

oldest gallery established about 200m upstream of the road bridge and another gallery laid in
2018 about 500m upstream of the old gallery. Both the galleries are for the Vizianagaram water
supply. For Nellimerla village there are 3 infiltration wells constructed in the same river about
1.0km downstream of the Kondapeta site. There is one infiltration well for Jarajapupeta at about
100m north and upstream of the present site selected for Jarajapupeta shown in above figure. In
total groundwater withdrawal for all the above said schemes will be about 8.0 MLD. A surface-

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cum-subsurface dyke is constructed across the river at about 150m downstream from the old
gallery keeping in view of the sustainability of the existing and proposed water supply schemes.
The dyke was constructed in the early months of 2019 and the satellite image shown in fig. 1is
the image acquired on 7th Jan, 2020 shows the water stagnation up to 2km upstream. Even in the
summer also some amount of water stagnation is noticed.
The site selected for Kondapeta is about 300m downstream of railway track. Further down about
1.0km there are 3 nos of infiltration wells supplying water source to Nellimerla. Geological
investigations indicate that there is sufficient thickness of sand formation in the river bed to get
good yield of groundwater. All the time water stagnation also noticed along the left bank of the
river downstream of the railway bridge.
Hydraulic characteristics and Aquifer yields – Hydraulic conductivity (K), Transmissivity (T),
Storage coefficient are essential for designing the water supply system to the required quantity.
Proposed quantity of groundwater exploration in Champavathi river at Nelliverla village for
Nellimerla nagar Panchayat will be about 4.0 million litres per day(MLD) in which 2.0 MLD at
Jarajapupeta and 2.0 MLD at Kondapeta sites.
Pumping test is conducted before onset of the rainy season during the fourth week of June, 2020
to determine the yields of the aquifer that represent summer. Location of the pump test site is
shown in fig. 1. Pumping well is chosen at a location where sand thickness was more than 8m
noticed while investigation conducted during 2018 and their geographical coordinate are:
i) Jarajapupeta : Lat:18010’38.4”; Long: 83026’46.6”
ii) Kondapeta : Lat:18010’14.47”; Long: 83027’12.42”
Bore holes are drilled for pumping and observation wells in the test shown in fig. 1. Bore hole
drilled with 200mm diameter as pumping well up to 9.5m where gravel and pebbles bed met.
Two observation wells are drilled up to 6.0m depth at a distance of 10m and 20m from the
pumping well at both the locations. Coarse sand layer is met up to 9m and gravel&pebbles for
another 0.5m at both the locations. Aquifer parameters- Transmissivity, storage coefficient and
aquifer yields can be determined through pumping test which involves abstraction of water at a
controlled rate and observing drawdown with respect to time, the water level changes in the
pumped well and two observation wells. Pumping test field procedure and water level
observations are described below:

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B. Description of Pumping Test: Pumping test has been conducted in the river bed that
consists of sand and gravel. Aquifer of the river bed is unconfined and the material consists of
coarse sand for 9m and gravel 0.5m. As
per the bore holes data at the pumping
and observation wells, high permeable
sand&gravel bed thickness continued
beyond 9.5m depth. Drilling was
carried with Rotary method, slotted
casing of 200mm diameter is inserted in
to the pumping well and 125mm
diameter casing into the two
observation wells which are at a
distance of 10m(r1) and 20m(r2) from
the pumping well. Pumping well is drilled to 9.5m and observation wells to 6m depth. Schematic
diagram of the pumping and observation wells shown Fig.2.
A centrifugal pump is used for pumping groundwater from the pumping well. Water levels in the
pumping and observation wells are measured with electronic water level indicator. Field photos
of pumping test are shown in fig. 3A & fig. 3B.

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B. 1: Jarajapupeta: The photo mosaic of fig. 3A shows the close view of the test site of
Jarajapupeta through satellite image (A), at this place river width is about 200 m and sand
thickness is 8m to 10m. Pumping
well and observation locations also
shown on the image. Synoptic view
of the pumping test site with bore
well locations shown in photo- B.
water levels in the PW and Obs
being taken (C) with time interval.
Plate ‘D’ shows the pumping rate
from the PW being measured to
know ‘Q’. while conducting the
pumping test output water from bore
well is left far off to reduce immediate recharge effect on the aquifer. Pumping test continued for
4 hours even water table reached steady state within 150min. and test data is shown in table – 1.
Table- 1: Champavathi River, Jarajapupeta, Nellimerla Nagar Panchayat, Vizianagaram Dt.
Geo-Coordinates of Testing site: Lat:N18010’14.47” Long:E83027’12.21”

S.No. Time Pumping well OB-1 OB-2

interval 18010’38.40” N18010’38.6” N18010’14.47”
minutes E83026’46.6” E83026’46.6” E83027’12.2”
D.W.T Residual D.W.T Residual D.W.T Residual
from GL DD (sw) from GL DD(s1) from GL DD(s2)
1 0 2.95 0.00 2.70 0.00 2.75 0.00
2 5 3.65 0.70 2.73 0.03 2.76 0.01
3 10 3.90 0.95 2.75 0.05 2.78 0.02
4 15 4.05 1.10 2.76 0.06 2.80 0.05
5 20 4.09 1.14 2.77 0.07 2.82 0.07
6 30 4.11 1.16 2.78 0.08 2.825 0.075
7 40 4.12 1.17 2.79 0.09 2.83 0.08
8 50 4.13 1.18 2.80 0.10 2.83 0.08
9 60 4.14 1.19 2.82 0.12 2.835 0.085
10 90 4.15 1.20 2.83 0.13 2.84 0.09
11 120 4.15 1.20 2.83 0.13 2.84 0.09
12 150 4.15 1.20 2.83 0.13 2.84 0.09
13 180 4.15 1.20 2.83 0.13 2.84 0.09
14 240 4.15 1.20 2.83 0.13 2.84 0.09

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Discharge of the pump, draw-downs in the PW, OBs and other measurements at Jarajapupeta are
listed below:
Q= 42 m3/h, or 11.65 lps; r1= 10m; r2= 20m; rw= 100mm; sw= 1.20m, s1= 0.13m, s2= 0.09m
Testing bores- Total depth PW= 9.5m, SWL= 2.80m ; H= 6.70m; hw= 5.50m, h1= 6.57m, h2=
6.61m
B. 2: Kondapeta: Photo mosaic of Pumping test conducted at Kondapeta is presented in fig. 3B.
during the summer also there is stagnation of water at the test site may be due steep hills on
either side of the river course. Large deposit of sand observed on the concave bank i.e., right
bank. Photo- A shows the panoramic view of the site from satellite image. PW and OBs are also
shown in it. Public Health Engineers visited the site (B) while conducting the pumping test.
Pumping well is drilled to 9.5m and cased with 200mm diameter perforated plastic pipe.
with 2mm diameter holes with
1” grid in between the rows.
Two observation wells drilled
to m depth and cased
with125mm diameter at a
distance of 10m (Ob1) and
20m (Ob2) from the pumping
well as shown in C. Photo ‘D’
shows the pumping and
observation wells. Photo ‘E’
shows the yield measurement while pumping to know the ‘Q’ value. Engineers are observing the
pumping data while the test being conducted. Water levels in the pumping well and observation
wells are taken with regular time interval and the readings are shown the table- 2.
Discharge of the pump, draw-downs in the PW, OBs and other measurements at Kondapeta are
listed below:
Q= 42 m3/h, or 11.65 lps; r1= 10m; r2= 20m; rw= 100mm; sw= 1.20m, s1= 0.18m, s2= 0.12m
Testing bores- Total depth PW= 9.5m, Ob1= 6.0m; Ob2= 6.0; SWL= 1.98; H= 8.40m; hw=
6.42m, h1= 8.22m, h2= 8.28m

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Table- 2: Champavathi River, Kondapeta, Nellimerla Nagar Panchayat, Vizianagaram Dt.
Geo-Coordinates of Testing site: Lat:N18010’14.47” Long:E83027’12.21”

S.No. Time Pumping well Observation well-1 Observation well-2

interval 18010’14.47” (10m from PW) (20m from PW)
minutes E83027’12.21” 18010’14.62” 18010’14.47”
E83027’12.42” E83027’12.2”
D.W.T Residual D.W.T Residual D.W.T Residual
from GL DD (sw) from GL DD(s1) from GL DD(s2)
1 0 0.90 0.00 1.26 0.00 1.32 0.00
2 5 1.57 0.67 1.28 0.02 1.34 0.02
3 10 2.08 1.18 1.30 0.04 1.36 0.04
4 15 2.44 1.54 1.32 0.06 1.38 0.06
5 20 2.62 1,72 1.34 0.08 1.39 0.07
6 30 2.70 1.80 1.37 0.11 1.40 0.08
7 40 2.76 1.86 1.40 0.14 1.41 0.09
8 50 2.78 1.88 1.41 0.14 1.42 0.10
9 60 2.80 1.90 1.42 0.15 1.43 0.11
10 90 2.84 1.94 1.43 0.16 1.435 0.115
11 120 2.87 1.97 1.44 0.17 1.44 0.12
12 150 2.88 1.98 1.44 0.18 1.44 0.12
13 180 2.88 1.98 1.44 0.18 1.44 0.12
14 240 2,88 1.98 1.44 0.18 1.44 0.12

At both the sites Pumping bore wells are drilled to 9.5m depth and observation bores are drilled
to 6.0m. Average thickness of the sand layer is 9.0 m followed by 0.5m gravel and pebbles.
Overall the aquifer identified at both the locations is highly permeable and potential. Uniform
rate of the pumping well at both the locations is 42,000 lph or 11.65Lps and attained steady state
in less than 150 minutes in PW. Residual draw-down is the water level at pumping time lower
than the static water table. Steady state is arrived in the pumping well in less than 150 minutes of
pumping and residual drawdown is 1.98m at Jarajapupeta and 1.2m at kondapeta. Steady state
indicates that the inflow into the pumping well is equal to the pumping quantity. In order to
know the quantification of aquifer parameters and yields, the data has been analysed with
relevant hydraulic equations describe below:

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C. Pumping Test Data Analysis:
The data has been analysed using Dupuit equations. These are developed with certain
assumptions and type of aquifers. The present pumping test is conducted for i) Unconfined
aquifer, ii) uniform rate of pumping and steady radial flow into the well. Dupuit’s equations
assumptions are:
a) Stabilized drawdown- constant rate of pumping and steady state reached.
b) Aquifer is homogeneous, isotropic, infinite areal extent and constant thickness.
c) Complete penetration of the pumping well for the entire thickness of aquifer and 100% well
efficiency.
d) Flow lines are radial and flow is laminar.
e) The well is infinitely small with negligible storage.
The pumping test conducted at these two sites in Champavathi river fulfill the almost all the
assumptions mentioned above. The equations are:
i) In case of two observation wells kept at r1 and r2 from the pumping well
Q = πK(h22 – h12)/2.303 log10 (r2/r1) ( 1.1)
ii) Q = 2πKH(H - hw)/2.303 log10 (R/rw) or Q = 2.72T(H - hw)/ log10 (R/rw)
where T=KH; considering radius of influence ‘R’ (1.2)
Where
Q- Rate of flow
K- Permeability
T- Transmissivity
H- Thickness of aquifer
R- Radius of influence
r1- Distance of observation well 1 (OB-1)from PW
r2- Distance of observation well 2 (OB-2)from PW
h1- Thickness of water column at OB- 1
h2- Thickness of water column at OB- 2
hw- Thickness of water column at PW
sw, s1, s2 are residual drawdowns at pumping, OB-1 and OB2 respectively
Pumping test field data has been plotted on a graph- distance of observation wells vs residual
drawdown for the two sites shown in Fig. 4A& Fig. 4B and Fig. 5A& Fig. 5B.

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C.1 : Jarajapupeta Site: Physical measurements at the pumping test site and drawdown
parameters from the graph are listed in the above graph (fig. 4A). To obtain the radius of

influence – R, drawdown curve is drawn on enhanced scale to get the clarity of the interception
point is shown in fig. 5A. The curve touches the zero drawdown at 37m distance from the
Pumping well. Hence R can be taken as 37m. For the purpose of calculation of permeability,

storage coefficient and yield of the aquifer, all the required parameters are obtained from the
field measurements as well analysis of pumping test data. While considering the thickness of the
saturated aquifer, H is considered as 6.70m.

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C. 2: Kondapeta Site: Physical measurements at the pumping test site and drawdown
parameters from the graph are listed in the above graph (fig. 4B). To obtain the radius of

influence – R, drawdown curve is drawn on enhanced scale to get the clarity of the interception
point is shown in fig. 5B. The curve touches the zero drawdown at 39m distance from the

Pumping well. Hence R can be taken as 39m. For the purpose of calculation of permeability,
storage coefficient and yield of the aquifer, all the required parameters are obtained from the
field measurements as well analysis of pumping test data. While considering the thickness of the
saturated aquifer, H is considered as 8.40m.

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D. Determination of Aquifer Parameters.
D. 1: Jarajapupeta Site: A 20cm diameter well penetrates 6.70m below static water level
(GWT). After a long period of pumping at the rate of 11.65 lps, the residual drawdown in the
observation wells at 10m and 20m from the pumped well are 0.13m and 0.09m, respectively.
Radius of influence R is taken as 37m as per the drawdown curve (fig. 5A).
D. 1a) Permeability –K as per the Dupuit’s equation (1.1)
Q = πK(h22 – h12)/2.303 log10 (r2/r1)
Q= 0.0117 m3/sec.; h2 = H-s2 = 6.7 – 0.13 = 6.57 m; h1 = H – s1 = 6.7 – 0.09 = 6.61 m;
r1 = 10m; r2 = 20m
0.0117 m3/sec = πK(6.612 – 6.572)/2.303 log10 (20/10)
K = 4.88X10-3 m/s or 422m/day
D. 1 b) Transmissivity T = KH = 4.88X10-3 m/s X 6.7 m = 3.3 x 10-2 m2/sec or 2827
m2/day
Yield of the aquifer is arrived considering the coefficient of permeability- K as 422 m/day and
thickness (b) of aquifer as 6.7m.
D. 1 c) Specific Capacity of a well: A well of 200mm diameter and 9.5m depth with saturated
thickness of 6.7m unconfined aquifer for which the specific capacity is given below.
Specific capacity can be calculated using the equation
Sc = Q/dd; Q is discharge – 0.0117m3/sec, and dd is 1.20m
Sc = 0,0117m3/sec/1.20m = 0.0098 m3/sec/ one meter drawdown
Sc = 585 lpm/ one meter drawdown
Hence, Specific capacity of the well is 585 lpm/ one meter drawdown
Yield of the well in a day i.e 20 hours of pumping in a day will be 1.17 Million Litres per
day (MLD).
D. 1 d) Well yields as per Dupuit’s equation:
A well of 200mm diameter and 9.5m depth with saturated thickness of 6.7m unconfined aquifer..
Applying in the Dupuit’s equation
Q = 2.72T(H - hw)/ log10 (R/rw)
where T=Kb , K- permeability m/day= 422 m/day; b= 6.70m; R= 37m, rw = 0.1m;
H-hw= sw= 1.20m

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 Q = 2.72x((422/24)x6.7))x1.20/2.57 = 150 m3/h per meter drawdown
Q is 150m3/h for one meter drawdown, i.e., 3.0 mld @ 20 hours/per day of pumping.

D. v) Yield calculation through Infiltration Gallery pipe &Infiltration wells:

The calculation is similar to above, but the increasing diameter to 300mm
Applying in the Dupuit’s equation
Q = 2.72T(H - hw)/ log10 (R/rw)
where T=Kb , K- permeability m/day= 422 m/day; b= 6.7m; R= 37m, rw = 0.3m;
H-hw= sw=1.20m
Q1 = 2.72x((422/24)x6.7) x1.20)/2.09 = 184 m3/h per meter drawdown
Q1 is 184m3/h for one meter drawdown, i.e., 3.7 mld @ 20 hours/per day of pumping.
Comparing the yields between the 100mm radius and 300mm radius of bore wells is given
below:
Q = 150 m3/h with 100mm radius; Q1 = 184 m3/h with 300mm radius
Percentage of Increase of yield = (Q1 – Q)/ Q = (184 – 150)/150x100 = 23%
The increase of yield is by 23% by increasing the diameter of the pumping well of 200mm
diameter to 600mm diameter gallery pipe.

KONDA PETA
D. 2: Kondapeta Site: A 20cm diameter well penetrates 8.40m below static water level (GWT).
After a long period of pumping at the rate of 11.65 lps, the residual drawdown in the observation
wells at 10m and 20m from the pumped well are 0.18m and 0.12m, respectively. Radius of
influence R is taken as 39m as per the drawdown curve (fig. 5B).
D. 2a) Permeability –K as per the Dupuit’s equation (1.1)
Q = πK(h22 – h12)/2.303 log10 (r2/r1)
Q= 0.0117 m3/sec.; h2 = H-s2 = 8.4 – 0.18 = 8.22 m; h1 = H – s1 = 8.4 – 0.12 = 8.28 m;
r1 = 10m; r2 = 20m
0.0117 m3/sec = πK(8.282 – 8.222)/2.303 log10 (20/10)
K = 2.60X10-3 m/s or 225m/day

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D. 2 b) Transmissivity T = KH = 2.60X10-3 m/s X 8.4 m = 2.18 x 10-2 m2/sec or 1887
m2/day
Yield of the aquifer is arrived considering the coefficient of permeability- K as 225 m/day and
thickness (b) of aquifer as 8.4m.
D. 2 c) Specific Capacity of a well: A well of 200mm diameter and 9.5m depth with saturated
thickness of 8.4m unconfined aquifer for which the specific capacity is given below.
Specific capacity can be calculated using the equation
Sc = Q/dd; Q is discharge – 0.0117m3/sec, and dd is 1.98m
Sc = 0,0117m3/sec/1.98m = 0.0059 m3/sec/ one meter drawdown
Sc = 355 lpm/ one meter drawdown
Hence, Specific capacity of the well is 355 lpm/ one meter drawdown
Yield of the well in a day i.e 20 hours of pumping in a day will be 0.71 Million Litres per
day (MLD).
D. 2 d) Well yields as per Dupuit’s equation:
A well of 200mm diameter and 9.5m depth with saturated thickness of 8.4m unconfined aquifer..
Applying in the Dupuit’s equation
Q = 2.72T(H - hw)/ log10 (R/rw)
where T=Kb , K- permeability m/day= 225 m/day; b= 8.40m; R= 39m, rw = 0.1m;
H-hw= sw= 1.98m
Q = 2.72x((225/24)x8.4))x1.98/2.59 = 164 m3/h per meter drawdown
Q is 164m3/h for one meter drawdown, i.e., 3.3 mld @ 20 hours/per day of pumping.

D. 2 e) Yield calculation through Infiltration Gallery pipe &Infiltration wells:

The calculation is similar to above, but the increasing diameter to 300mm
Applying in the Dupuit’s equation
Q = 2.72T(H - hw)/ log10 (R/rw)
where T=Kb , K- permeability m/day= 225 m/day; b= 8.4m; R= 39m, rw = 0.3m;
H-hw= sw=1.98m
Q1 = 2.72x((225/24)x8.4) x1.98)/2.11 = 201 m3/h per meter drawdown
Q1 is 201m3/h for one meter drawdown, i.e., 4.0 mld @ 20 hours/per day of pumping.

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Comparing the yields between the 100mm radius and 300mm radius bore wells is given below:
Q = 164 m3/h with 100mm radius; Q1 = 201 m3/h with 300mm radius
Percentage of Increase of yield = (Q1 – Q)/ Q = (201 – 164)/164x100 = 23%
The increase of yield is by 23% by increasing the diameter of the pumping well of 200mm
diameter to 600mm diameter gallery pipe.

E. Conclusions & Recommendations:

 Pumping test was conducted just at the beginning of onset of monsoon and the aquifer
yields can be considered as lean base flows of the river and the quantity can be
considered as lean period yields.
 Two Pumping tests are conducted in Champavathi river bed near to the Nellimerla nagar
panchayat in a span of 1.22km between Jarajapupeta and Kondapeta sites. Thickness of
sand aquifer is more than 10m at both the locations. Aquifer is unconfined, static water
table is at 2.80m, saturated thickness of aquifer is 6.70m at Jarajapupeta and 1.10m,
saturated thickness of aquifer is 8.40m at Kondapeta. Water levels are measured with
electronic indicator in the pumping well and two observation wells.
 Steady state is reached within 150 minutes after pumping commenced. Aquifer is
considered as unconfined with steady state of pumping to determine the aquifer
parameters. Dupuit’s equations are used to arrive K, T and Sc.
 Hydraulic conductivity/ permeability of the aquifer at Jarajapupeta is K = 4.88X10-3
m/s or 422m/day, transmissivity is T = 3.3 x 10-2 m2/sec or 2827 m2/day, and Specific
capacity of the well Sc= 585 lpm per one meter drawdown.
 Hydraulic conductivity/ permeability of the aquifer at Kondapeta is K = 2.60X10-3 m/s
or 225m/day, transmissivity is T = 2.18 x 10-2 m2/sec or 1887 m2/day, and Specific
capacity of the well Sc= 355 lpm per one meter drawdown.
 High permeability clearly indicates the groundwater flow through coarse sand. Since it is
depositional sand porosity also will be high may be in the range of 30% to 35%.
 Comparing the yields of the bore well of 200mm diameter and infiltration gallery pipe of
600mm diameter from which it shows the yields through gallery is 23% more than the
bore well.

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  In between the Jarajapupeta site and Kondapeta sites there are two infiltration galleries
drawing about 4.0 MLD. Recently surface-cum-subsurface dyke is constructed
downstream of those galleries to store flood water as well river base flow that could be
available during winter and summer period.
 Establishing Bore wells in the river course is difficult considering the approach to the
establishments and flood flows in the river course. Hence, infiltration galleries with
infiltration wells in between connecting the gallery length is proposed for tapping river
base flow at this site through earlier integrated surveys conducted.
 Another surface-cum-subsurface dyke is also proposed about 1.6km downstream of
Kondapeta site that also cover the present infiltration wells of old water supply source.
F. Recommendations/ Suggestions:
 Yields of the bore wells with 200mm diameter of are low when compared to infiltration
gallery pipe diameter of 600mm and the yields are 23% more. Aquifer thickness is more
than 10m and may likely to reduce in future due to heavy sand mining activity in the river
course. Gallery proposed at 6m depth with infiltration wells can only yield good filtered
and high quantity of groundwater.
 Infiltration galleries may be established as per the norms suggested earlier to get the
required quantity 2.0+2.0= 4.0 mld groundwater for Nellimerla Nagar Panchayat.
 Further, sand mining in and around the proposed gallery sites is to be suspended forth
with for sustainability of source for a long period and keeing the gallery at 6m depth.
Sustainability and annual renewability becomes a question if the sand mining is
continued. Restriction should be between the Anicut/ groin in the upstream about 1.5km
and 1.6km downstream from the existing gallery point in the river course.
 There is scope to make the source perennial and dependable water source to the proposed
schemes by constructing Kondagandredu water storage system that fed by Thotapalli
reservoir which was also mentioned in the integrated survey report.

Dr .V.Venkateswara Rao
Professor (Retd.), Geo-Engineering, A.U
QCI-NABET Accredited FAE in Geology& Hydrogeology
Visakhapatnam- 530 017
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