Geographic Information System (GIS) and Groundwater Management
Third South Asia Geological Congress (2000), Lahore, Pakistan.

Groundwater is a limited source of water and requires replenishment in one way or the other. In areas where it is the only source of irrigation or municipal water supply, its  management needs some special attention. So far conventional and simple approach has been adopted to suggest management strategy for the management of groundwater resources. Pakistan has large areas where groundwater is the only source for irrigation and municipal water supplies. Mountainous areas in Pakistan are the examples.
 Urbanization processes has created a number of management problems in daily life. Municipal water supply in metropolitan area is largely dependent upon groundwater. Balance between recharge and discharge is disturbed due to increase in users, modern facilities and reduction in recharging areas. Problem of over-exploitation has been recognized in all major cities of the country. Groundwater monitoring data confirms that aquifers are being mined and water table is under continuous depletion. The situation suggests that it is mow time to apply modern tools to manage our system of groundwater exploitation. 
 Geographic Information System (GIS) is widely used in management of water resources. This paper demonstrates the application of GIS in suggesting methodology for the management of groundwater resources in urban area. Water table monitoring records are used to prepare Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and changes in water table depths with respect to space are determined. Overlays are produced to geographically demarcate the areas where management strategy is needed to be applied and implemented in order to conserve the limited groundwater resources.  

Tahir Naseem Qazi
International Waterlogging and Salinity Research Institute (IWASRI).
13 West Wood Colony. Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Pakistan.