Interference and inefficiency of water wells: a constrain of water conservation in Bangladesh

Abstract

Sustainability of groundwater use for irrigation is becoming a vital concern in Bangladesh due to declination of groundwater level and escalation of irrigation cost. Groundwater exploitation in an unplanned way is considered as one of the major causes of inefficiency in groundwater abstraction. The objective of the current research is to provide a guideline of water well location planning in order to improve well efficiency and reduce irrigation cost in Bangladesh. For this purpose, systematic hydrogeological studies relating to aquifer properties, well properties, and actual location of water wells have been evaluated in a water-stressed region located in northwest Bangladesh. The results revealed that the area is potential of bulk groundwater exploitation. The well efficiency values were found to vary between 98 and 46% depending on the geology of the area. Lower efficiency values indicate that the design and well construction procedures were improper and need to be improved to obtain desired discharge. Most of the wells were interfered with each others, ultimately reduce the optimum discharge. This study concluded that the wells should be installed at least 2.5 and 1.4 km distance apart in the floodplain and Barind area, respectively, in order to avoid economic loss.