Abstract: This study mainly focuses the several factors that control the occurrence and movement of groundwater including topography, geology, drainage patterns, land use/land cover, slope, Rain fall and soil. Using GIS technique, it is possible to integrate number of different thematic maps of the area for the required analysis. The objective of this study is to develop a time and cost effective methodology to investigate ground water recharge potential zones in Gin river basin, Sri Lanka based on integrated remote sensing and GIS techniques. Using weighted overlay method within GIS platform, the resultant thematic layers were prepared and identified ground water recharge potential zones. The integrated map reveals about the groundwater recharge potential zones of the area and classified into three categories which represents low, moderate and high recharge potential. The results depict that the recharging capacity of the area is in considerable level, statistically 10.2% of the area falls under high groundwater recharge potential zone, while 23% falls under law groundwater recharge potential zone. This study can be considered as a pre-feasibility study for any water management program of the Gin river basin conduct by any government or non-government agencies. The GIS model developed in this study can be generalized to the entire basin for generating the maps for most suitable locations for groundwater recharge in any area of consideration within a short time by providing rainfall, geology, soil, land use, stream network, lineaments and contour.

Keywords: Groundwater recharge, Gin river basin, GIS model.

1. INTRODUCTION

Figure 1 Study Area

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1. Preparation of data

(

Figure 2 Methodology Flow Chart

Figure 3 DEM and Other Data Sets: (a) Geology, (b) Land Use, (c) Drainage Density and (d) Rainfall

Figure 4 Interrelationships between Influencing Factors

2.2. Weightage calculation

2.3. Weighted overlay analysis

= RF RF + GG GG + SG SG + DD DD + LC LC + SC SC (1)

Pr RF GG

Table 1 Proposed score of each influencing factor

SG DD LCSC w r

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 5 Proposed Distribution for Ground Water Recharge Potential Index (GWRPI)

Figure 6 Distribution of the Groundwater Recharge Potential Index (GWRPI)

3.1. Land use in high groundwater recharge potential zones

4. CONCLUSIONS

Figure 7 Land Use Distributions within High Groundwater Recharge Potential Zones

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

6. REFERENCES

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