Impact of urbanization on the groundwater regime in a fast growing city in central India Pradeep K. Naik & Jivesh A. Tambe & Biranchi N. Dehury & Arun N. Tiwari Received: 23 April 2007 / Accepted: 12 November 2007 / Published online: 18 January 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2007 Abstract This paper describes the impact of urbaniza- tion on the groundwater regime in a fast growing city, Solapur, in central India, giving special emphasis on the management of the present and ultimate demand of water in 2,020 AD. The objective is to apprise the city planners and administrators of the effects of urbaniza- tion on the groundwater regime in a fast growing medium-sized city in a developing country where the infrastructure developments are not in conformity with the rapid growth in population. Solapur city with an area of 178.57 km 2 receives a recharge of about 24 million m 3 of groundwater from various sources annually. Reduction in recharge, as conventionally assumed due to the impact of urbanization, could not, however, be well established. Instead, there was a rise in recharge as water use in the city grew from time to time and more and more water was supplied to satisfy the human needs. Compared to mid-1970s, groundwa- ter levels have increased within the main city area due to increased recharge and decreased groundwater abstraction. However, outside the main city area, there is a general decline in groundwater levels due to in- creased groundwater utilization for irrigation purposes. Groundwater quality deterioration has been highly localized. Water quality has deteriorated during the last 10 years, especially in dugwells, mainly due to misuse and disuse of these structures and poor circulation of groundwater. However, in case of borewells, compar- ison of the present water quality with that in mid-1970s and early 1980s does not show any perceptible change. Deeper groundwater tapped by borewells can still be used for drinking purposes with caution. Keywords India . Urbanization . Population . Groundwater . Hydrogeology . Recharge . Quality . Sewage . Sewerage . Wastewater . Pollution . Water supply . Water demand Introduction India, with a population of 1,103,371,000 (July 2005), is the most populous country in the world after China. All its developmental sectors are in growing state; villages which once did not have the basic amenities for water and electricity even after several years of independence are being provided with these facilities in recent years through several government-sponsored programs. Despite these efforts to improve rural facilities, there is a rapid migration of rural population to urban areas possibly for better work opportunities and living conditions. Environ Monit Assess (2008) 146:339–373 DOI 10.1007/s10661-007-0084-6 P. K. Naik (*) : J. A. Tambe : B. N. Dehury : A. N. Tiwari Central Ground Water Board, Central Region, N.S. Building, Civil Lines, Nagpur 440 001, India e-mail: pradeep.naik@water.net.in Present address: P. K. Naik Post Box No. 30490, Budaiya, Kingdom of Bahrain