Hydrological modeling of chain of tanks to increase utilizable water

Scientific approach in assessing the status of existing water bodies and surface water budgeting to identify opportunities for harnessing surface water is carried out along with ways for increasing utilizable water from both surface and groundwater sources. The large regional variation in rainfall and the seasonal character of river run-off in India have prompted human interference with the hydrological cycle. The land use changes taking place in the peri-urban area modify the drainage pattern thereby changing the catchment area of the tanks leading to water stagnation and flooding. Rainfall and runoff events were identified for hydrological modeling so as to assess the validity of USDA-NRCS model. Utilizing the historic data of rainfall for 14 water years runoff was computed for four tanks. Simulation of these tanks have been carried out for a period of 14 water years with the inflows obtained from USDA-NRCS model, estimated demand for irrigation, assessed net losses and connectivity of the tanks in terms of realizing the spill from upstream tanks and return flow from upstream tank ayacuts. The feasibility of increasing utilizable water is discussed in respect of each of the tank.