Groundwater Recharge Analysis and Strategic Management for Sustainable Water Resources in the Bahuda Watershed, Chittoor District, India

Groundwater serves as a critical source of fresh water for drinking, agriculture, and industry, especially in regions with limited surface water availability. This research addresses groundwater recharge and management practices which can be advocated in the Bahuda watershed of Chittoor District. In the course of the years, groundwater recharge was estimated based on the water table fluctuation method and some empirical formulae with relative emphasis placed in appreciating the recharge potential based on rainfall. Furthermore, the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a widely used Hydrological model tool was utilized to analyse various recharge components through a water balance model, helping to map the spatial and temporal variations in recharge patterns across the watershed. This understanding formed a basis for the formulation of strategies that seek optimal restoration of surface and groundwater resources. Some of the expected strategies include construction of rainwater harvesting systems, improvement of soil moisture, and alteration of land use practices.