Author(s): Deepal Gangodawila; Gregory De Costa
Linked Author(s): Gregory De Costa
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The long-term changes in catchment characteristics brought about by human interactions have been investigated. These are in the form of changes to land use due to urbanisation and industrialisation, and the related socio-economic factors associated with these, namely increasing population growth and changes in demography. Demographic changes and land use patterns occurring in this region impact on the demand on water resources. Hence a basic regression analysis has been carried out to identify the nature of the changes and its impact on ground water. Even though the scale of impact by demographic and catchment changes on the aquifer has not been quantified it has been found that over a 50 year period, 25 years past and 25years future, there has been and will be significant changes. The infiltration area changed in the past 25 years by 10%and forecast to change by a further 10%in the next 25 years. It has also been found that while population increased in the said catchment, the population density decreased both which negatively impacting on the groundwater resource.
Year: 2010