1

2
Reference Material for National Hydrology Project Training on Awareness Raising Campaign
Goa is the smallest state by area and it is situated on the west coast of India.
Panaji is the state's capital. Goa state encompasses an area of 3,702 km2 and is
situated between North latitudes 140 53’ 57’’ and 150 47’ 59’’ and East longitudes 730
40’ 35’’ and 740 20’ 11’’. It lies in the west coast of India between the Arabian Sea
and the Western Ghats. The Goa state is falling in the Survey of India toposheet
48E, 48I and 48J. The Terekhol River in the north separates the state from
Sindhudurg district of Maharastra. It is bounded in the north east by Belgaum and
south east and south by Uttar kannada district of Karnataka state and in the west by
Arabian sea.

CLIMATE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

The state of Goa is situated along the windward direction of the Western Ghats and is
flanked by Arabian Sea in the west. Hence, the climate of the state is warm, tropical and
humid. Most period of the year the state experience warm and humid climate. The average
annual normal rainfall recorded is 3227 mm (Year-1971-2000).

3
 The state is divided into three geomorphologic units 1) Highlands, 2) Midlands
and 3) Coastal lands.

4
 The state is drained by the network of west flowing rivers. Major part of the
state is drained by the two major rivers- The River Mandovi and The River Zuari. The
river Terekhol forms the northern boundary of the state and separates the state from
Maharashtra state.

5
 Soils in Goa state can be grouped into 5 classes based on their origin, texture
and chemical composition. The soil types of Goa state are- Lateritic soils, Alluvial
Soils, Saline Soils, Marshy Soils and Sandy Soils.

6
GEOLOGY
Rocks of the Goa group belonging to the Dharwar Super Group of Archaean
to Proterozoic age dominate the state. Deccan Trap of Upper Cretaceous to Lower
Eocene age occupies a small area in the north eastern part of the state as a narrow
strip. The Goa group is consisting of green schist facies of the metamorphic rocks
and is divided in to Barcem, Sanvordem, Bicholim and Vageri formations in the
ascending order of superposition. The formation of Goa group has been intruded by
granitic rocks followed by basic intrusive. During the Sub-Recent to Recent times
the rocks have been subjected to lateritisation of varying thickness. Coastal alluvium
occurring along the coastal plains consists of fine to coarse sands with intercalations
of sandy loam, silt and clay.
Barcem formation consists of metavolcanic rocks with subordinate
metasedimentaries. The major rock types representing the Sanvordem formation are
Metagreywacks, Conglomerate and Argilllite.
The Bicholim formation overlies the Sanvordem formation conformably and
the Bicholim formation consists of quartz-chlorite schist, amphibole schist,
ferruginous pink phyllites, limestone, manganiferous chert, breccias and banded
ferruginous quartzities. The formation is very important from the commercial point of
view as it possess large quantity of iron and manganese ore deposits.
The Vageri formation conformably overlies the Bicholim formation. It is
essentially made up of metagreywacke with minor proportion of metabasalt.
There are four isolated occurrences of granitic rocks which were intruded in to
schistose rocks. The four granitic rocks are a) Chandranath Granitic Gneiss, b)
Tamdi felspathic gneiss, c) Dudsagar granite and d) Canacona granite.
There are acid intrusive of pegmatite and quartz veins. Both the pegmatite
and quartz vein occur with the granitic rocks along their fringes. The basic intrusive
are represented essentially by dolerite and to some extent by gabbro.
Deccan traps occure at the altitudes ranging from 600 to 700m amsl and have
a gentle north-westerly dip. The trap has almost vertical to steep slopes to the south
western direction.
More than 60% of the area of Goa state is covered by laterite. It is mostly
found in the midland and coastal strip.

7
HYDROGEOLOGY
The main source of ground water occurring in the state of Goa is mainly through
precipitation and return flow from applied irrigation. The ground water occurrence
and movement are controlled by the degree of weathering, fracturing and the
geomorphological set up in the state.
Water Bearing Properties of the rock formations
The ground water availability depends upon the water bearing properties of the rock
formations. The water bearing properties of metabasalt and metagreywacks and the
associated rocks of Precambrian age are also dependent on the fracturing, jointing
and foliation present in the rocks. The water bearing formations in the state of Goa
are granite and granite gneiss, meta-volcanic & meta-sedimentaries, laterite and
alluvium.
Occurrences of Ground Water
In general ground water occurs under water table conditions in shallow aquifer
and semi-confined to confined conditions in deeper aquifer. The occurrence and
movement of groundwater in the crystalline rock is along the weathered and
fractured zones. In the upper portion the water moves through the permeable
weathered rock and in the lower portion through fractures, joints and fissures.
Fractured zones are followed by massive bedrock, which acts as an aquiclude. In

8
laterites, the movement of groundwater is through the network of conduits and along
the joints and fractures right up to the basal portion, where lithomarge acts as an
aquiclude. Further, there is an apparent hydraulic continuity between the water table
aquifers in the laterites and the recent deposits of beach and alluvial sand.
Ground water exploration

Ground Water Exploration has been carried out in Goa state to study the sub-
surface Geology, hydrogeological setup and to evaluate various aquifer parameters
of different aquifer systems. The entire Goa state has been covered under
systematic hydrogeolgical surveys by Central and South-Western Regions of Central
Ground water Board, initially to the study the occurrence, movement and behavior of
ground water and to assess the first approximation of ground water resources of the
state.
Followed by hydrogeological surveys, scientific exploration of groundwater
was carried out between January 1987 and August 1990 by deploying DTH and
Rotary rigs and 54 exploratory wells and 19 observation wells were drilled and
constructed in different geological formations covering two districts of the state. The
details of wells drilled under Ground water Exploration, such as depth drilled, depth
of well construction, well assembly, litholog, depth to water levels, yield & drawdown
relations and hydrological parameters are given in Table-.1
Further, during 2009-10, under Hydrology Project-II, 49 bore wells (piezometer)
were drilled in different geological formations.
The location of exploratory bore wells drilled in the state is shown in figure-8.
Subsurface disposition of aquifers in Goa state has been prepared based on
exploratory bore well data.
Table-1. District wise status of exploratory wells in drilled in the state
Sr. District Area No of wells drilled under PZ drilled under HP-II
No Sq.kms Ground water exploration
programme
EW OW DTH Rotary
1 North Goa 1736 24 8 13 14
2 South Goa 1966 30 11 16 6
Total 3702 54 19 29 20

9
 Fig-7

Fig-6

10
 Ground water exploration studies show that Granites & Gneisses, Meta
Basalt, Meta Greywackes, Meta Sediments and Alluvium are the major aquifers in
the state. The depth of wells ranges from 12.4 m bgl to 202.00m bgl. The static water
level ranges from 0.67 mbgl to 31.23 m bgl. Aquifer wise status of exploratory wells
drilled in the state is presented in the Table-2.
Table-2. Aquifer wise status of exploratory wells drilled in the state.
Sl.n Aquifers No of wells Depth Yield Drawdown Specific Transmis
o drilled range (lps) (m) Capacity sivity
GWE HP-II ( mbgl) (m3/d/m) (m2/day)
1 Granites & 5 9 70.7 - 124 0.34- 17.68- 0.27-43 0.2-30.6
Gneisses 8.8 34.61
2 Meta Basalt 12 7 37.2 - 0.18- 1.9-33.78 0.46- 0.2-232
200.75 9.9 141.2
3 Meta 18 10 22 - 200 1.0- 1.18-24.27 6.25- 4.27-170
Greywackes 13.5 988.5
4 Meta 35 23 22 - 0.22-10 1.32-34.4 0.47- 0.12-346
Sediments 200.75 159.6
5 Alluvium 3 - 15.5 - 22 1.8-2.5 0.87-9.1 27.0-200 21-177.6

11
12
13
14
15
GROUND WATER REGIME MONITORING
Ground water is a dynamic system. It always remains under the influence of
time dependant recharging and discharges factors. Due to this continuous influence,
water level of the aquifer system fluctuates and the range depends on the period of
influence. Monitoring of ground water regime is an effort to obtain information on
ground water levels and chemical quality through representative sampling. The
important attributes of ground water regime monitoring are ground water level,
ground water quality and temperature. The primary objective of establishing the
ground water monitoring network stations is to record the response of ground regime
to the natural and anthropogenic stresses of recharge and discharge parameters
with reference to geology, climate, physiography, land use pattern and hydrologic
characteristics. Central Ground Water Board has been started monitoring the ground
water regime through the all India National Hydrograph Network Stations from 1969
onwards. The density of observation wells was increased year after year.
Ground water monitoring was carried out earlier through a net work of open
wells in the Goa state tapping the shallow aquifer only. Recently piezometers tapping
both shallow and deeper aquifers have been constructed under Hydrology Project-II.
At present the Ground water monitoring wells along with the piezometers are
being monitored four times in a year ( Jan, May, August and November). Ground
water samples are being collected from these observation wells once a year during
the month of May to obtain background information of ground water quality changes
on regional scale. The database thus generated forms the basis for planning the
ground water development and management programme. This data is used for
assessment of ground water resources and changes in the regime consequent to
various development and management activities.
The total number of hydrograph stations in the network is 152, out of these 152
stations, 103 are dug wells tapping shallow aquifer and 49 are the piezometers
tapping shallow and deeper aquifers. The District-wise distribution of the ground
water observation wells is given in Table-3.
Table-3 District wise distribution of National Hydrograph Station
No of NHS
Sr.No Districts Total No of NHS
Dug wells Piezometers
1 North Goa 54 28 82
2 South Goa 49 21 70
Goa 103 49 152

16
DEPTH TO WATER (pre and post Monsoon)

Table 4: Depth to Water Level (May 2018)

No/Percentage of Wells showing Depth to water table (mbgl) in
the range of
No of 5-
Taluk Wells 0- 2- 1 10- 20- >
S.No Name analysed Min Max 2 % 5 % 0 % 20 % 40 % 40 %
1.9
1 Bardez 12 1 14.95 1 8.3 7 8.3 1 8.3 3 25 0 0 0 0
2.7 42. 42. 14.
2 Bicholim 7 4 18.7 0 0 3 9 3 9 1 3 0 0 0 0
3 Cancona 8 3.9 14.63 0 0 4 50 2 25 2 25 0 0 0 0
2.8
4 Mormugao 1 1 2.81 0 0 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1.9 11. 66. 22.
5 Pernem 9 3 7.33 1 1 6 7 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
1.4
6 Ponda 5 5 6.5 2 40 1 20 2 40 0 0 0 0 0 0
1.4 33. 33. 33.
7 Quepem 3 3 6.10 1 3 1 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
2.1 45. 45.
8 Salcete 11 9 13.25 0 0 5 5 5 5 1 9.1 0 0 0 0
2.5 26. 46. 26.
9 Sanguem 15 1 13.8 0 0 4 7 7 7 4 7 0 0 0 0
0.8
10 Satari 10 6 10.84 1 10 4 40 4 40 1 10 0 0 0 0
1.6
11 Tiswadi 4 8 8.30 1 25 1 25 2 50 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.8 3 2
Total 87 5 14.95 7 8 7 44 9 34 12 14 0 0 0 0
The statement showing the distribution of ground water monitoring wells along
with depth to water level of phreatic aquifer in different depth ranges is presented in
Table-4.

Table 5: Depth to Piezometric Surface (November 2018)

No. / Percentage of Wells Showing Depth to Water Table (mbgl) in
No. of
Taluk the Range of
Wells Min Max
Name 0- 2- 5- 10- 20- >
Analysed % % % % % %
S.No 2 5 10 20 40 40
1 Bardez 5 0.1 15.03 1 20 1 20 2 40 1 20 0 0 0 0
2 Bicholim 4 9.43 24.17 0 0 0 0 1 25 1 25 2 50 0 0
3 Cancona 5 3.84 9.54 0 0 1 20 4 80 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Mormugao 1 0.32 0.32 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Pernem 7 1.83 18.05 1 14.3 3 42.9 0 0 3 42.9 0 0 0 0
6 Ponda 2 15.51 18.14 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 100 0 0 0 0
7 Quepem 1 13.86 13.86 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 100 0 0 0 0
8 Salcete 8 0.83 4.75 4 50 4 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Sanguem 4 3.97 10.78 0 0 1 25 2 50 1 25 0 0 0 0
10 Satari 4 3.23 20.05 0 0 1 25 1 25 1 25 1 25 0 0
11 Tiswadi 3 0.53 4.11 2 66.7 1 33.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 44 0.1 24.17 9 20 12 27 10 23 10 23 3 7 0 0

17
18
HYDROCHEMISTRY

The quality of shallow groundwater in Goa state has been evaluated by

sampling and analysis of water sample collected from Groundwater Monitoring wells.
About 78Groundwater Monitoring wells were monitored for water quality during May
2018 representing pre-monsoon water quality. The summarized results of
groundwater quality ranges are given in Table:6

Table 6: Summarized results of groundwater quality ranges (May 2018)

No. of Percentag
S.No. Parameters Range
sample e
1 Electrical Fresh < 750 77 98.7
Coductivity
Moderate 751- 2250 NIL 0.0
s/cm at 25oc
Slightly 2251- 3000 NIL 0.0
mineralized
Highly > 3000 01 1.3
mineralized
2 Chloride Desirable limit < 250 80 100.00
mg/L
Permissible limit 251-1000 NIL 0.00
Beyond > 1000 NIL 0.00
permissible limit
3 Fluoride mg/L Desirable limit < 1.0 80 100
Permissible limit 1.1- 1.5 NIL 0.00
Beyond >1.5 NIL 0.00
permissible limit
4 Nitrate Permissible limit <45 75 96.00
mg/L
Beyond > 45 03 4.00
permissible limit

19
20
GROUND WATER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

The ground water development should be optimal to avoid deterioration in

quality and quantity. In order to achieve these objectives it is required to know the
available resources, its sustainability and the spatial as well as temporal distribution.
Hence, the estimation of ground water resources assumes great significance. There
are several methodologies world over aimed at assessment of ground water
resources and each of these methodologies has its own merits and demerits
addressing different problems encountered in the estimation. Thus the
methodologies undergo continuous refinement and updating but none of them give
very precise results due to the involvement of extremely complex and dynamic
parameters.
Ground water resources of the state of Goa were assessed on administrative unit
(Taluk) wise, based on Groundwater Estimation Methodology (GEM) 1997. The
assessment was done using the Ground Water database as on 2016-17 validated by
Water Resources Department, Govt. of Goa. GEM 1997 methodology recognises
that it has considerable scope for refinements and improvements, which can be
achieved in a phased manner, as per the guidance of the R&D advisory committee
on Groundwater Estimation. The methodology envisages that the groundwater
assessments may be made once in three years, however later on it was decided to
have the re-estimation once in two years for the entire country. As part of that, the
groundwater resources were re-estimated for the state of Goa as on March 2017.
Groundwater resources were estimated taking taluk as unit for the base year
2017. There are 12 taluks. The taluks were divided into sub units of command, non
command, poor quality and hilly areas of more than 20% are supposed to have very
quick run off and contribute little recharge to the ground water. There are 22 sub
units for which the resources were estimated. Similarly the areas having massive
rock exposures are also not suitable for augmenting recharge to ground water.
Hence such areas are excluded from recharge calculations. The resources were
estimated by water table fluctuation method.
The recharge to ground water is computed separately for monsoon and non-
monsoon months. The recharge was computed by water table fluctuation method
and rainfall infiltration method. The percentage difference was calculated and
normalisation was also done.

21
 The net annual groundwater availability as on March 2017 for the state of Goa
is 16033 HAM, while the gross annual draft is 5371 HAM, and the net available
resource for future irrigation development is 6993 HAM (Table-4). Taluk wise and
command/non-command wise resources are given in Table-7.
The average stage of ground water development in North Goa district is 30%
with Bicholim taluk recording the lowest stage of development of 12% in command
and 15% in non command area, while Ponda taluk recording the highest stage of
development of 66% in the command and 46% in the non command area.
In respect of south Goa district, the average stage of development is 39% with
Dharbadra taluk recording the lowest stage of development of 34% in Command and
21% in non command area, while Salcete taluk has recorded the highest stage of
development of 65% in command and 51% in non command area. The over all stage
of ground water development in the state of Goa is 34% and all the taluks are falling
under safe category.

Table-7 Salient features of the groundwater resources of Goa State

Particulars As on 2017
Net Annual Ground water Availability (HAM) 16,033
Existing Ground water draft for Irrigation (HAM) 2,058
Existing Ground water draft for domestic and
3,314
Industrial water supply (HAM)
Existing Ground water draft for all uses (HAM) 5,371
Provision for domestic and industrial
3,669
requirement supply for 2025
Net annual ground water availability for future
6,993
irrigation development (HAM)
Stage of Ground water development (%) 34
Category Safe

22
23
24
25
26