Integrated Surface and Groundwater Planning for Sustainable Water Security in Ghotki District, Sindh

Abstract

Groundwater quality in Ghotki district faces severe degradation, with a substantial proportion of sampled wells exceeding permissible limits for key physicochemical parameters, including electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, calcium, and fluoride. While high saline and sodium concentrations negatively impact soil characteristics, crop yields, and long-term agricultural sustainability, elevated fluoride and hardness levels provide serious hazards to public health, particularly dental and skeletal fluorosis. Surface water from the Guddu Barrage on the Indus River is an essential supplemental and alternative water source in this situation. Built in 1962, the barrage regulates river flows to important irrigation canals, such as the Ghotki Feeder Canal, thereby supporting industrial water supply, large-scale dry-season cropping, flood management, and irrigation of more than one million hectares throughout northern Sindh and portions of Baluchistan. However, ongoing rehabilitation and effective management are necessary to ensure the barrage's continued operational effectiveness. To address water quality issues, this study emphasizes the need to integrate surface water from the Guddu Barrage with improved groundwater management and advanced treatment methods, such as reverse osmosis. To improve water security, protect public health, maintain agricultural production, and promote long-term socioeconomic development in Ghotki District, an integrated approach to water resources management is crucial.