The study by National Institute of Hydrology attempts to model seawater intrusion using FEFLOW, an interactive finite element simulation system in the coastal area of Bardez taluka in North Goa and evaluate the impact of increasing groundwater development on the phenomenon. Coastal tracts of Goa are rapidly being transformed into settlement areas and the poor water supply facilities have encouraged people to develop their own sources of water by digging or boring wells.
During the last decade, there have been large-scale withdrawals of groundwater by builders, hotels and other tourist establishments. Though the seawater intrusion has not yet assumed serious magnitude, but in the coming years it may turn to be a major problem if corrective measures are not initiated at this stage. It is necessary to understand how fresh and salt water move under various realistic pumping and recharge scenarios.
The study concludes that –
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