Integrated studies to investigate paleochannel aquifer in Dan Chang District, Suphan Buri Province, Western Thailand

Abstract

Climate change is currently causing droughts in many parts of Thailand, especially in Dan Chang District, Suphan Buri Province where many areas are outside irrigation coverage and deep groundwater explorations are less successful due to groundwater shortages. Therefore, there is a need to explore other shallow groundwater (i.e. less than 15 m deep) resources to relieve the drought problems in the communities. This work uses integrated studies of remote sensing, geology and geophysics to identify the location of a paleochannel that contains shallow groundwater resources in the Nong Makha Mong Subdistrict, Dan Chang District, Suphan Buri Province. Potential sites were selected using preliminary remote sensing analysis along with field surveys. A high-resolution topography map from aerial photos was generated and 2D resistivity imaging surveys were conducted at the selected sites to delineate the location of the paleochannel. The drilled wells prove the success of the integrated study to identify the shallow groundwater in the paleochannel at a depth of 3 to 15 m with a groundwater yield of 4 m3/h. The sediments from the borehole suggest that a combination of alluvial deposits and fluvial sediments. Due to the relative lower cost of drilling shallow wells, this work could be used as a pilot project for local communities to explore shallow groundwater aquifers in paleochannels in areas that face a severe drought crisis and have very little deep groundwater potential.