Groundwater Feasibility Assessment Using Pumping Test Analysis at Selebar District of Bengkulu City

Abstract

In recent years, groundwater has become crucial for regional development, both in terms of construction and business permits. Therefore, the demand for groundwater is increasing along with population growth, agricultural and industrial development, which can be determined by the presence and potential of groundwater (Mohammed, 2023). The main obstacle to groundwater development is a lack of understanding of the geological and hydrogeological conditions necessary for effective groundwater management. Information on geological and hydrogeological conditions requires an integrated approach to provide detailed information on aquifer characteristics, thus ensuring the sustainability of groundwater supplies. Inadequate knowledge leads to groundwater pollution, improper groundwater management, and failed well drilling. The Step Drawdown Test is a well testing method used to evaluate well performance and the characteristics of the surrounding aquifer. This test involves pumping water from the well at several different flow rates (in stages), then measuring the drawdown at each flow rate. This method is used to evaluate well productivity, including production rate and efficiency. The Step Drawdown Test is relatively short, consisting of several steps at varying flow rates, pumping at gradually increasing flow rates, and measuring the pressure drop (drawdown) at each step. Based on the results of the pump test and groundwater feasibility analysis, it can be concluded that the aquifer potential at the test site has sufficient capacity to meet water needs. The pump test provides information on the aquifer's hydraulic characteristics, such as hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity. This data provides an estimate of the optimum discharge that can be maintained without causing significant water level decline, thus enabling sustainable groundwater utilization planning. It is recommended that the wells be further apart than the existing wells, and monitoring wells are required. Groundwater feasibility analysis also showed that water quality at the test site meets the required standards for its planned use. However, this groundwater utilization still requires sustainable management. Regular monitoring of water discharge and quality is crucial to prevent overexploitation and avoid potential problems such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion, particularly in coastal areas. These efforts will ensure that groundwater resources continue to support the needs of the community and the environment in the future..