Evaluation of the aquifer characteristics of the basaltic terrain of Maharashtra in India

The paper attempts to evaluate the permeability data obtained from 75 aquifer performance tests conducted on open wells tapping the water table aquifer of the basaltic lava flows spread over the three different basins of Maharashtra. The permeability has been computed by Thiem’s formula and the modified Theis non-equilibrium formula. The statistical analysis of the permeability data of the study basins,viz., Bhima, Godavari and Wardha, reveal a decrease in permeability range as one proceeds from the Bhima basin (low rainfall area) through the Godavari basin (assured rainfall area) to the high rainfall area of Wardha basin. The permeability frequency graphs of the three study basins reveal different hydrogeological characteristics for each.