Water scarcity has been identified as a global issue. Poor management of available water resources contributes to this shortage. An extensive network of canals supply water to small landholdings in the Lower Bari Doab, in eastern Punjab, Pakistan. Quantifying the water balance of intensively irrigated canal and groundwater irrigated regions is critical for improving management of surface and groundwater resources.
Seepage losses from canals and watercourses significantly reduce water availability and efficiency at the farm level. However, seepage from the extensive canal network are a major contribution to groundwater that allows extensive use of groundwater for irrigation. The present study assessed the water balance for the command area of the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) Punjab, Pakistan. Recharge and discharge was assessed from October 2009 to September 2015 to quantify the water balance for the area. The water balance components estimated are seepage losses from canals and distributaries, recharge from rainfall, surface water irrigation and groundwater irrigation, and discharge from groundwater pumping in the area and evapotranspiration losses.
Data are available for average water supply to LBDC and groundwater pumping within the LDBC. Seepage losses and irrigation return flows, and groundwater conveyance and field losses can also be estimated from the available data sources. These data are currently being modelled to determine the extent of depletion from the alluvial aquifer system. We will present results from this modelling and what implications can be drawn for policy and improved groundwater management practices.
Note: This abstract is part of a series of presentations related to the ACIAR LWR-2015-036 project. Authors acknowledge financial support of the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).