Impacts of Large-Scale Groundwater Exploitation Based on Long-Term Evolution of Hydraulic Heads in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Abstract

Dhaka city has emerged as the fastest-growing megacity, having more than 20 million inhabitants, with a growth rate of 3.62%. Unplanned and rapid urbanization, coupled with exponential population growth, has significantly altered the groundwater dynamics in Dhaka city. This study concentrates on the evolution of long-term piezometric heads of the Upper Dupi Tila aquifer (UDA) and the Middle Dupi Tila aquifer (MDA) based on long-term hydrographs, piezometric maps and synthetic graphical overviews of piezometric trends. Due to over-exploitation, the piezometric level (PL) has declined deeper than −85 and −65 m PWD (Public Works Department reference datum) in UDA and MDA, respectively. The highest rate of decline was observed in the south-central to southeastern parts of the city both in UDA (4.0 m/year) and MDA (5.74 m/year). The results clearly show that the rates of decline in PL vary from 2.25 to 5.74 m/year in both aquifers of the city, and urban expansion has greatly affected the shape and extent of the depression cone over the past four decades. The magnitudes of the depression cones in both aquifers seem to pose a considerable threat to groundwater resources, indicating that the current exploitation is not sustainable at all.

Keywords

• groundwater over-exploitation
• population growth
• city expansion
• hydrographs
• piezometric maps
• depression cone