Environmental Processes and Management

The present study focused on the different surface-based geophysical methods which are used to explore the subsurface aquifer characterizations including water availability. The principle of the Earth Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and different electrode array configurations like Schlumberger, Wenner, and dipole–dipole arrays is discussed in detail. Afterward, the surface nuclear magnetic resonance (surface NMR) technique is also described to measure the subsurface aquifer information like hydraulic conductivity and water content below the surface of the soil. The surface NMR hydraulic conductivity and decay time distribution curves complement the ERT results.

Generally, advection–dispersion and fractional advection–dispersion equations are used to model the transport of solute tracer in a porous medium. This study describes the numerical solution of both the general advection–dispersion equation and the space fractional advection–dispersion equation. The developed numerical model is used to simulate the observed data of chloride concentration obtained in the laboratory using soil column experiments. Different scenarios were used to estimate the transport parameters to simulate the concentration profiles through experiments.

Contaminant transport modeling for soil column and heterogenous porous system poses a challenge when modeling approach involves non-linear and non-equilibrium sorption models and low permeability porous media (LPPM). Thus, in this chapter, contaminant transport modeling for soil column conditions via 1-D non-linear and non-equilibrium sorption models by means of MODFLOW models-based scripting Python package is presented. Further, contaminant plume evolution dynamics through homogeneous and heterogeneous porous systems, along with sensitivity analysis of flow and transport parameters, is conducted utilizing MT3D-USGS and MODFLOW 6 models. Results from 1-D modeling revealed sorption mass exchange rate as dominating parameter governing concentration at the outlet of soil column. Further, longitudinal dispersivity is observed to be affecting the peak value of concentration for non-equilibrium sorption model. The dominance of molecular diffusion and transverse dispersion on 2-D vertical transport through LPPM is observed from 2-D vertical transport modeling, whereas advection and mechanical dispersion are observed as governing mechanisms in the high hydraulic conductivity zone. Also, the difference in the simulation capabilities of two modeling (i.e., MT3D-USGS and MODFLOW 6) approaches is seen. Overall, this chapter highlighted the influence of sorption isotherm, LPPM, and modeling approach on the contaminant transport modeling.

Demographic and geographic locations of various towns in the study area having proximity to the river like Alaknanda along with its tributaries Mandakini and Pindar make them suitable target locations to get the complications of water shortages. The rivers are malevolent when it comes to supply of water in balance in the times of crucial need as these rivers are basically glacier-fed rivers and their discharge varies with seasonal changes. Due to seasonal variation, only limited direct water abstraction is possible and it results into shortage of water for supply. The potential locations of alluvial deposits were identified by generating thematic GIS maps of land use, terrain, and geology, using a weightage factor. The sites thus identified were characterized using groundwater flow modeling for their optimal abstraction rate, travel time, and flow field of the induced bank filtrate. The purification capacity of the aquifer was estimated for the removal of organic micro-pollutants (OMP) using the SOMA tool and was correlated with the river meandering sinuosity (S). Along the 100 km river stretch, 8–9 locations were found suitable for indirect surface water abstraction. An S-value of around 1.4 resulted in the highest purification capacity and a bank filtrate portion of 44–100% in the abstracted water from 14 wells located 75 m from the riverbank under the defined conditions. The calculated removal of different OMP was 26–91%. Based on this study, potential riverbank filtration (RBF) sites were identified in seven large towns and cities Rishikesh, Ramnager, Haridwar, Dehradun, Roorkee, Kotdwar, and Haldwani having a total population of 1.23 million situated in the flood plains in the Himalayan area.

In both urban and rural settings, groundwater supports various aquatic habitats and plays a critical role in the economic growth and human well-being. Therefore, if properly assessed and sustainably used, groundwater has considerable importance to the development and well-being of people in underdeveloped nations. Although groundwater resource development potential is still discussed in the literature, there is still a lack of quantitative knowledge about these problems. The chapters goal is to draw attention to the key groundwater concerns and difficulties that developing nations face, as well as the existing and foreseeable potential for sustainable subterranean water governance. The purpose can be consummate through reviewing current groundwater resource information as well as current and upcoming groundwater management programs and efforts. Due to increased demand to fulfill human and agricultural requirements, groundwater resources in developing countries are increasingly at risk of contamination from urban spaces, manufacturing firms, farmlands, and excavation operations, as well as from inadequate hygiene standards and overexploitation. This paper will look at the importance of groundwater importance, groundwater challenges in developing countries, and a systematic review of drought management policy. Therefore, it is necessary to implement methods to corroborate with sustainable management and flourishment of groundwater reserves. These include developing groundwater monitoring systems, comprehending the connections between groundwater aquatic ecosystems, managing transboundary aquifers, addressing the repercussions of climate alterations on underground water, and determining how accelerated expulsion of subsoil waters will affect its retaining capacity.

Water is an essential element for life without which the life cannot sustain on the earth. The earth’s major part is covered with water which carry maximum biodiversity. The humans, animals and plants of the terrestrial ecosystem depend on freshwater sources which are less than 3% of the total water available on the earth while marine water sources have saline water available in oceans, seas and saline lakes. Both these sources are suffering from contamination by different chemicals. The majority of chemical contamination in water is due to human activities. Human population growth is directly proportional to the degradation of the environment which means mismanaged human activities are causing different types of environmental problems. Out of all environmental problems, contamination of water and degradation of water quality is a big problem for the water resources. It is evident that water has high levels of harmful chemicals like heavy metals, pesticides and volatile organic compounds. These chemicals are now getting accumulated in the plants, humans and animals. In humans, these chemicals get deposited in the tissues and are responsible for the different types of life-threatening diseases. The studies on different water sources including poles and glaciers have shown the presence of different harmful chemicals, and even at some places these are found in high concentration. The people from different parts of the world are suffering from various diseases like arsenic poisoning, fluorosis, itai–itai, mercury poisoning, liver failure, nervous system failure and many more. Some of these chemicals are carcinogenic and mutagenic too which is responsible for the different types of cancer and mutation in the body. Therefore, the proper treatment of waste, awareness of people and following the standard guidelines strictly are only the way to reduce the chance of contamination of different water sources by chemicals.

The term “climate change” refers to the changes in weather patterns brought on by an increase in the atmospheric concentration of gases that absorb heat. In response to human activity, CO₂ levels in the atmosphere have steadily increased, with the associated “greenhouse” effect possibly altering future climate on both global and regional scales. The greenhouse effect’s climatic and hydrological consequences have been studied for some time, but researches on water quality have just lately begun. The quality of water may be influenced in a number of ways. Securing access to high-quality water for its numerous purposes becomes more challenging and pertinent as a result of climate change’s impact on long-standing, conventional methods of managing water resources and disruptions to the hydrologic cycle. Higher water temperatures may hasten biological metabolic processes while also affecting stratification, sediment nutrient release, and ice conditions in water bodies. Changes in precipitation volume and distribution will affect runoff conditions. Changes in runoff will affect nutrient loads from non-point sources as well as the residence duration of water system. All of the aforementioned elements may have a substantial impact on the eutrophication of standing waters. Higher CO₂ levels in the atmosphere may have a direct influence on the inorganic carbon system of waters’ chemical equilibrium processes. Groundwater is a vital resource, which is used for a range of human activities as well as maintaining natural flows in rivers and other ecosystems. However, a number of human activities are rapidly deteriorating these limited resources, and a variety of natural (geogenic) water quality issues limit its use in some areas.

Globally, groundwater (GW) is a significant source of fresh water utilized in home, commercial, industrial, and other applications, as well as in ecosystem support. As a result, Rajasthan, a desert state in India, has experienced groundwater quality issues caused by both man-made contaminants and naturally occurring hazardous minerals. With a land size of 10,445.1 square kilometers, the Bhilwara district is situated in southern Rajasthan. Since groundwater contamination will directly influence human health, it is important to evaluate how it is affected by the availability of minerals, the rise in anthropogenic activities, and the number of mining companies. The DRASTIC model, based on a geographic information system (GIS), was used in this study to create a susceptibility vulnerability map of the groundwater system. Adding Land Use (LU) maps from the research area has further upgraded the DRASTIC maps. Using a technique called hotspot mapping, it is possible to forecast how many significant hotspots will be present in the area under study and to find the sources of contamination. The water quality index and overlay approach were also used to understand the state of vulnerability better. The results showed that the index value has seven subclasses and spans from 100 to 205. The DRASTIC and DRASTIC–LU maps were linked with the nitrate concentration map for validation. It was discovered that the Sahara, Mandal, and Raipur blocks are particularly susceptible to the rapid increase in nitrate concentration. The highest percentages of TA, TDS, and NO₃₋ (100%) are found in the entire dataset.

Present research outlines need for wholesome approach for sustainable replenishment of water resources with participatory decentralized services as replacement to conventional centralized systems. Work highlights the variables that have been influencing the effective management of water resources with strong emphasis on ecologically unsound practices. Paper also attempts to draw attention of policymakers presenting various dimensions of the sustainable water management and human well being nexus relevant to water stressed nation like India through case study of Raghogarh, Guna District, Madhya Pradesh, India. The results obtained from the study project the necessity of closed cycle water management strategies operated in decentralized mode with community participation. The lowering groundwater tables augmented with rainwater harvesting and utilizing the clays for effective defluoridation form the feasible solutions for rural water supply in Raghogarh. Cumulative measures regulating the water supply and improving the wastewater collection are the key challenges for improved health and sanitation in the region. Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology (JUET) of the study area has been adopting energy intensive decentralized closed loop water management systems. Replacing the moving bed biofilm reactor adopted for secondary treatment with aerobic ponds/lagoons and restricting the utilization of household demineralization units for treated water enhance the energy savings in management. The work highlights need for strategic planning on regional scale considering the various primary and secondary concerns of the region for sustainable replenishment of the water.

Groundwater contributes 98.5% of the remaining fresh water available for use is stored in groundwater and only 0.98% of fresh water is available at surface, viz. rivers, lakes, ponds, and so on. However, over time, aberrations in rainfall patterns and overuse of aquifers resulted in groundwater recharge (GWR) depletion and water level has fallen in most parts of India resulting in severe drought like situations in several parts of the country. This can be resolved mainly through linking surface water with groundwater resources for GWR. It is reported that by considering 60% and 30% of surface runoff combined with river bed recharge and natural recharge through rainfall, the net GWR varied from 0.33 to 1.66 m and 0.16 to 1.06 m above mean sea level, respectively. In plain dryland conditions and hills and plateau regions, GWR rates are approximately 11–18 and 11–16% of average annual rainfall. Through water harvesting structures, the total GWR is about 38.53% of total GWR. Therefore, assessment of GWR potential is essential to develop linkages of surface water to groundwater for integrated water resource management.

A sustainable approach towards water resource management involves land, water and biodiversity in a specific designated area for ecological and sustainable socio-economic purpose towards ground water conservation in hilly areas. The present study shows concept and implementation of watershed management towards developing ground water conservation strategy to minimize the scarcity of water for the local people of Kurseong hill area. Present study finds out the significance and applicability of combined watershed management in and around various tea gardens in Kurseong. Local inhabitants depending on rainfed agriculture are at risk as they are highly vulnerable to changes in seasonal climatic patterns and disturbed water cycle. The people depend on natural jhoras for drinking water supply, household activities and irrigation, but in recent times most of them become seasonal or extinct. 12-month rainfall data has been collected from selected 13 locations of the research area which shows productivity is adversely affected by non-availability of adequate ground water for drinking, household activities and irrigation at critical stages of crop growth. Therefore, the solution is an integrated sustainable approach through watershed management towards conservation of ground water in the study area.

The balanced utilization of water resources is necessary to manage the global water cycle. Hydrogeological models capturing complex interactions of all the spheres of the earth are indispensable for effective strategy formation by a better knowledge of the temporal water cycle patterns with due consideration of environmental changes. In large watersheds, groundwater management and its influences on the surface water systems and the hydrological processes are significant. To account for the interactions of groundwater and to ascertain their consequences on the hydrological responses in large watersheds, integrated models are implemented. This chapter explores the combined use of process-based hydrological models and finite element method to improve groundwater management in regional watersheds comprising multiple cities. The study aims to modify basin-scale hydrogeological model, SWAT-FEM to simulate groundwater use in interconnected regional river systems by combining them with big data-based methodical approaches of statistical and mathematical modeling. Such studies are essential to quantify the significant impact of contaminant transport on groundwater use and other groundwater responses in the natural and anthropogenic conditions in river basins. The negative impacts of anthropogenic activities suggested seasonal reduction of groundwater use in the summer months and a significant rise in the winter months. The annual mean groundwater use in the Chennai basin was predicted as 3.18 mm which is well within the safe groundwater abstraction rate of 4.9 mm. The study results would help reinforce and monitor the extremity of groundwater fluctuations prevalent in the study areas through the combined model systems.

Himalayan areas are the water bucket of the world and contribute one of the world’s greatest freshwater resources. The Himalayan system provides plentiful services to the downstream towns and population in terms of water for household purposes and ecosystems services, etc. More than 1.4 billion people directly depend on water from the rivers of the Himalaya. So, water resources and its management for providing clean water and sanitation are already a challenge in the Himalayan region. All the mitigation measures adopted under Ganga Action Plan (for cleaning of all tributaries of river Ganga started by ministry of water resource in 14 Jan 1986) focus primarily on the big cities for construction of sewage treatment plants, interceptor sewers, and sewage diversion mechanisms. But always questions are raising about the sustainability, maintenance and cost-efficiency of these mitigation measures, and its effect on water quality of the river. For small areas and towns of Uttarakhand, natural, sustainable, efficient, natural, and long-life mitigation measures are required for reducing the pollution level in the river system.

The Himalayan areas face frequent occurrence of water scarcity. There is a need for an assessment of water resources of the region. To meet the population’s water needs, existing water resources and new potential water bearing zones must be investigated. Due to high seasonal variability in river flows and very high sediment transport and monsoonal turbidity in river water in mountainous areas, indirect surface water abstraction from riverbank for drinking water production is becoming a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to the direct abstraction of river water and associated conventional treatment. However, the identification of suitable sites for indirect surface water abstraction is problematic due to limited vertical and horizontal extent of alluvial deposits. For an economical identification of potential sites, an approach combining various noninvasive techniques using geographical information system (GIS), remote sensing and groundwater flow modeling (PMWin) software has been suggested for a study area comprising a 100-km-long mountainous stretch of the Alaknanda River in the state of Uttarakhand, India, having a catchment area of 10,577 km².

Water is an important ecological factor for plants and the soil water is a critical factor determining the distributional pattern of plant species on earth. Different plant species are adapted to different degrees of water or moisture availability prevailing in their habitats and are categorized either as xerophytes, mesophytes or hydrophytes. Majority of the wild and crop plants belong to the ecological group mesophytes and are adapted to moderate soil water content. This group of plants performs better under this moderate availability of soil water. Whenever the soil water availability increases to higher degrees during water logging, such plants face the water stress with consequences of decreased growth and survival. Flooding is an environmental stress which negatively influences the growth and biomass production in crop plants. The impact of flooding on growth and survival may be direct on the plant, or it may modify the habitat conditions of the plant and thus bring about its impact on the plants indirectly. Some plants are tolerant to water logging, and in them, the impact of flooding is significantly little as compared to the nontolerant species. The flooding is known to affect and modify the conditions and habitat features of plants as well as directly impacting their survival, growth and reproduction.

Floods are most commonly caused by severe rains when natural watercourses fail to handle the excess water. They are not necessarily produced by excessive rainfall. There are many factors that can lead to floods, including storm surges associated with tropical cyclones, tsunamis, or high tides associated with higher-than-normal river levels, and especially in coastal areas, floods can occur due to a storm surge from a tropical cyclone, a tsunami, or a high tide and high river levels. Even in dry weather, dam failure, such as that induced by an earthquake, will result in downstream flooding. Other elements that might cause flooding include rainfall volume, intensity, and duration, spatial distribution; the capacity of a stream network to convey runoff; and catchment and weather conditions previous to a rainfall event, terrain, ground cover, and tidal forces. So for potential flooding sites, drainage network information must be known. The rivers, canals, water streams, etc., make a great network of drainage system. For any site, drainage network can be extracted with the elevation information. The elevation information is contained in DEM (Digital Elevation Data) data which you different sources and applying hydrological analysis, we can extract drainage network. Using a digital elevation model, a hydrological analysis was performed to determine the slope, flow direction, flow accumulation, and drainage network. The purpose of this study is to examine the boundaries of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) in order to construct and test a GIS-based flood inundation map. DEM and drainage network information is further employed to assess the potential flooding sites in the Lucknow city, and the potential flooding sites are investigated starting from 107 to 122 m with an increment at 1 m interval. The results of this study show that at 110 msl total potential flooding area is approximately 23.75 km² and at 122 msl total potential flooding area is 133.35 km² are estimated.

Hydro-climatic changes can significantly disturb the balance between natural parameters, leading to difficulty predicting trends in groundwater system. Rainfall and temperature variations can affect all other climatic elements; therefore, identification of trends of these two elements becomes relevant to studying the globally increasing effect of climate change. In the past decades, scientific research on the impact of climate change on the various hydro-climatic parameters has identified trends in the extreme seasonal and annual values. The most accepted statistical tool for examining trends was the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope and linear regression. The whole planet is struggling with water crises due to climate change, so groundwater is the only resource to lie on to fulfill fresh water needs. Thus, studying trends in groundwater levels becomes the necessity of the coming era. This research’s main objective is applying the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope method to identify the trends and magnitude of groundwater levels under the climate conditions in Tinsukia District, Assam, India. This objective is important in analyzing groundwater resources in close connection with their efficient management. The study is based on the secondary data of the monthly groundwater level (mbgl) obtained from the Central Water Commission, India and climatic data (average annual rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature) for the period 2012–2021 from India Meteorological Department (IMD). The findings suggested that the average yearly rainfall, maximum temperature and minimum temperature have an increasing trend along with the groundwater levels in the study area. This leads to saturation in the recharge system and storage capacity. The higher intensity of rainfall and greater saturation level in the groundwater system may lead to a higher runoff rate, thereby initiating a major flood-like situation in the study area.

It is essential to monitor the quality of the groundwater since it is a vital resource utilised to satisfy the demands of various sectors, including agricultural, industrial, and residential. Due to the leachates, solid waste disposal also has an impact on the quality of surface and groundwater in addition to overusing groundwater. The study’s goal is to comprehend how the disposal of solid waste causes land and groundwater to become contaminated. Around urban areas, enormous amounts of solid trash are deposited. This municipal solid waste, which is commonly referred to as “garbage”, is a natural by-product of anthropological activity and is dumped. The most typical way of disposing of solid waste is landfilling. The garbage collection facilities are open dumpsites because they have cheap running expenses and no equipment or knowledge to provide leachate collection systems. Dumping in the open is unattractive, unhealthy, and generally unpleasant. They draw pigs, rodents, insects, scavenger animals, and other pests. Hazardous chemicals that are dissolved or leached out of dumpsites by surface or subsurface runoff can be moved away from the dumpsites by surface or subsurface water percolating through the rubbish. Heavy metals are among these substances that are particularly pernicious and can cause bioaccumulation and biomagnifications. If the leachate migrates into groundwater, these heavy metals could pose a threat to the environment. The groundwater is at risk of contamination due to bore wells that are present at dump sites. The results of this study showed that poor solid waste management has a significant impact on a region’s groundwater system.

Background Groundwater is described as an unsaturated liquid that exists out of sight and below land surface. It appears as a layer of water that accumulates at depths between 5 and 500 feet below the land surface and often contains halogens in concentration hazardous to humans. The most common source of halogens, chlorine and bromine, are found in local groundwater at levels which exceed EPA drinking water guidelines for lifetime exposure. When present in high concentration over long periods of time, these contaminants can cause multisystem disorders. Objective This chapter’s purpose is to contextualize the fundamental mechanism of organic molecules found in groundwater over the period of time due to use of pesticides and insecticides. As a result of conditioning, molecules incorporate into physiology of human body and its effects on neurobiology. Discussion The covering knowledge on increment of environmental pH and risks of nutrient deficiencies identifies a problematic model of groundwater and its chemistry. Lack of nutrient uptake or loss from digestive system of animal and human body mounts for exploration of metal biology of soil and water. Over the time period, groundwater became an important source for domestic and irrigation purpose. However, rapid increase in population growth led to rapid industrial and economic growth, hence tremendous use of groundwater. The largest natural groundwater calamities in recorded history have been caused by metal poisoning of groundwater in the vast plain built by Ganga and Brahmaputra River in India and also fluvial plains of Padma and Meghna in Bangladesh. According to data from the Parkinson Environment and Gene Study, those who drank pesticide-tainted well water that has been around for a while in California’s central valley possess high potential for development of Parkinson’s disease than people who did not (Chen in J Parkinsons Dis 8:1–12, 2018). The epidemiological studies on progression of non-familial form of PD emphasize on prodromal period of toxin exposure. Access point of pesticides is via eating, drinking, nose, and skin contact. Various animal studies showed these entry points for pesticides initiate pathogenesis of synucleinopathy via olfactory-gut-brain axis. The objective is to discuss effects of environmental geochemistry on neurological well-being of human health in developing countries. Conclusion Analysis of exposure is easy to quantify through advanced experimental methods versus adequately measuring the organic molecule along with its persistence use affecting the neurobiological system. Overall exposure and monitoring over a very long period can align our understanding of gene-environmental etiology causing neurodegenerative diseases.

Natural resources are gradually becoming insufficient, and the results of human actions are omnipresent. In such a case, the focus should be on how to reduce impacts and improve sustainability using the best available tools for environmental characterization, impact assessment, and plan development. A clear understanding of the process, how water is collected and stored, and an understanding of how runoff changes in mountainous areas is useful for developing water resource use and planning. Groundwater is mainly used for drinking and irrigation purpose. Pollution in groundwater can lead to unsafe drinking water, water supply loss, excessive cleaning cost, and increase in cost of other water supply sources and/or potential health risks. With the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application, better and innovative methods can be developed to process the huge amount of data and information related to groundwater. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of GIS applications for groundwater resource assessment, exploration, groundwater contamination risk assessment, and protection planning. In this chapter, the relevant literature in different locations and in various ways has been collected to provide a comprehensive review. Conclusions are drawn based on identified gaps and on research prospectus in groundwater assessment of groundwater resources and pollution risk using GIS.

Due to the rapid growth in population, industrialization and agricultural outputs, the stress on groundwater and surface water has increased exponentially. The water quality depends on the interaction of both the groundwater and surface water; therefore, management and monitoring of the surface water are the need of the hour. River water management is a major environmental challenge worldwide. Because of the nonlinear behaviour of various water quality parameters, estimating the water quality of a surface water at any point of its flow is a time-consuming task. River quality monitoring is a difficult, cumbersome, and costly process that can lead to many analytical errors. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to create a reliable model for assessing and forecasting changes in water quality in Prayagraj (earlier know as Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India at three separate places, including the Ganga River, Yamuna River, and confluence of both rivers (also known as Sangam) using artifical neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) models. The developed model was used to statistically compare the results by analysing samples collected from the selected stations fortnightly. Based on the correlation matrix of the water quality for three stations, general prediction models for the selected parameters, namely DO, hardness, turbidity, and BOD, were developed. The prediction model was developed for DO, hardness, and turbidity for station 1 (Ganga River). The results showed that the correlation coefficient (R) for the ANN prediction model is 0.97, the average absolute relative error (AARE) is 0.002, and the model efficiency (ME) is 0.95 for the hardness prediction model. Similarly, the BOD-ANN prediction model performed well at station 2 (Yamuna River) and station 3 (Sangam), with R = 0.99, AARE = 0.006, root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.06, and ME = 0.99 at station 2. Overall, ANN outperforms all other modelling techniques for all four prediction models.

This paper presents the trend analysis of two climatic variables: annual average rainfall and annual average temperature and fluctuating groundwater levels (GWL) for the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season at ten different stations of Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, using the decadal data ranging from 2011 to 2021 using nonparametric Mann–Kendall (MK) test. The trend magnitude for each of the parameter is studied using Sen’s slope estimate. The result of the decadal study showed that there has been a strong negative trend reflecting the general consistent decline in the annual average rainfall pattern temporally. On the other hand, a non-significant negative trend was witnessed in the case of annual average temperature showing the overall decline in temperature over the last ten years but with varying yearly fluctuations. The groundwater levels trend analysis shows an overall negative trend of falling groundwater level during the pre-monsoon period. However, a locally varied trend was observed in the post-monsoon season where certain stations showed the rise in GWL. Decline in the annual average rainfall and temperature were associated with the gradual impact of climate change on the northern Gangetic plains of India. Declining groundwater levels during pre-monsoon season was attributed to the delayed and declining rainfall pattern, resulting in groundwater extraction during the sowing season of kharif crops. On the other hand, variability in the groundwater level trends during post-monsoon was attributed to the possible role of concretisation in urban areas, increasing surface runoff and its extraction for household and agricultural activities during lean season. Since this area has been limited studied in the context of impact of climate change on climatic variables and groundwater levels, this study would further aid the future researches, policy making and agricultural management.