Modelling the
Spatial Distribution and Future Trends of Seawater Intrusion due to Aquaculture
Activities in Coastal Aquifers of Nizampatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Manne Gopaiah, Das Iswar Chandra and Mahammood Vazeer
Disaster Advances; Vol. 16(10); 1-10;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/1610da01010; (2023)
Abstract
Coastal aquifers suffer from saltwater intrusion due to several natural and anthropogenic
activities and they pose a severe problem in many coastal regions of India. Anthropogenic
activities like saltwater aquaculture activities and salt pans are one of the major
causes for saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers in coastal regions. Along
with these activities, over-exploitation of fresh groundwater for domestic and agriculture
purpose also leads to infiltration of saltwater into shallow freshwater aquifers.
To address this effect, it is necessary to understand the spatial distribution and
extent of the saltwater intrusion in coastal areas.
In the present study, SEAWAT model is used to delineate the saltwater intrusion
effect and predict the extent of saltwater intrusion resulting from anthropogenic
activities in the Nizampatnam coastal area, Andhra Pradesh. The simulation was carried
out for the period 2016 to 2018 revealing a change in the extent of the saltwater
intrusion up to 2 km into the inland areas from the coast as well as in the vicinity
of fishponds. Based on the hydrological conditions observed during the study period
and leveraging the calibrated model, saltwater intrusion prediction was carried
out for the next two decades. The results show that anthropogenic activities will
lead to saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers up to 6 km into inland areas
from coast at a rate of 200 m/year. Therefore, the sustainable management plans
are essential for protecting the freshwater aquifers from the saltwater intrusion
in the Nizampatnam coastal area.
