Prospecting groundwater potential using vertical electrical sounding technique for sustainable agriculture in the Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan

Rapid changes in climate and cryosphere coupled with growing demand of water for irrigation, industrial and domestic use are putting high stress on the existing water resources of the Himalayan region. Surface water supplies become critically low especially during early summers and dry periods to sustain agriculture and livelihoods in the region. In the present study, groundwater prospects were investigated using vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique to supplement irrigation and domestic water supplies in the Upper Indus Basin of Pakistan. The findings of the study revealed groundwater potential of about 7 km³ in the aquifer, the yield of which may vary depending on the geological setup and characteristics of the subsurface lithology. The mean thickness of the aquifer was estimated to be approximately 11 m across the surveyed area, which spans about 2, 093 km². Areas with favorable aquifer potential (exceeding 30 m in thickness) account for only approximately 8.4% of the region, while moderate potential (20–30 m thickness) is present in about 19.8% of the surveyed area. Groundwater occurrence is limited in the elevated northeastern regions due to the prevalence of unfractured igneous and metamorphic rock formations. However, in-depth hydrogeological investigations and hydro-dynamics research would be helpful in understanding precise nature of the aquifer system as well as links between various recharge components of the groundwater in the region. An integrated water resource management approach would be beneficial for sustaining agriculture and livelihoods in this diverse mountainous region in future.