Note: Intro -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Disclaimer -- Contents -- Preamble -- a) Groundwater Quantity of South Asia -- b) Groundwater Exploration of South Asia -- c) Groundwater Quality of South Asia -- d) Groundwater Sustainability of South Asia -- e) Groundwater Management of South Asia -- f) Groundwater Governance of South Asia -- About the Editor -- Groundwater Systems of South Asia -- 1 Overview of the Groundwater of South Asia -- Abstract -- 1.1 Afghanistan -- 1.2 Bangladesh -- 1.3 Bhutan -- 1.4 India -- 1.5 Nepal -- 1.6 Myanmar -- 1.7 Pakistan -- 1.8 Sri Lanka -- 1.9 Conclusion -- References -- Groundwater Availability: Exploration, Recharge and Storage -- 2 Groundwater Availability in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan -- Abstract -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Climate -- 2.3 Geohydrology -- 2.4 Recharge -- 2.5 Groundwater Availability and Future Needs -- 2.6 Discussion -- References -- 3 Estimating Present-Day Groundwater Recharge Rates in India -- Abstract -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Methods -- 3.2.1 Study Area -- 3.2.2 Water Table Fluctuation (WTF) Method -- 3.2.3 Water Budget (WB) Method -- 3.3 Result and Discussion -- 3.3.1 Groundwater Recharge Rate Estimates -- 3.3.2 Comparison Between Recharge Rates Estimated Through WTF and WB Method -- 3.4 Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 4 Groundwater Storage Variations in India -- Abstract -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Methods -- 4.2.1 Study Area -- 4.2.2 Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) -- 4.2.3 Other Hydrological Components -- 4.2.4 Uncertainty Estimates -- 4.3 Result and Discussion -- 4.4 Summary -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 5 Groundwater of Hard Rock Aquifers of India -- Abstract -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Hard Rock Hydrogeology -- 5.3 Development of Hard Rock Aquifers -- 5.4 Aquifer Mapping in Hard Rocks of India -- 5.5 Surface Geophysical Survey. , 5.6 Heliborne Geophysical Survey -- 5.7 Case Studies on Integrated Geophysical Survey -- 5.8 Managed Aquifer Recharge -- 5.9 Groundwater Quality -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 6 Assessment of Groundwater in Karst System of Kashmir Himalayas, India -- Abstract -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Overview of the Study Area -- 6.3 Carbonate Rocks and Karst Landforms in Kashmir -- 6.4 Hydrochemistry -- 6.5 Dynamics of Karst Springs and Karst Functioning -- 6.6 Recharge Catchments -- 6.7 Karst Vulnerability -- 6.8 Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 7 Groundwater Availability of Northern and Southern Bank Aquifers of the Middle Ganga Plain, India -- Abstract -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Geologic Set-Up -- 7.2.1 Regional Geology -- 7.2.2 Quaternary Geology -- 7.3 Study Area -- 7.4 Hydrogeological Framework and Aquifer Configuration -- 7.5 Groundwater Flow Regime -- 7.6 Aquifer Hydraulic Parameters -- 7.7 Intense Groundwater Usage: Patna Metropolitan City -- 7.8 Conclusions and Recommendation -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 8 Exploration of Groundwater-Enriched Aquifers of Central Gangetic Basin, India Using Geomorphic Signatures -- Abstract -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Geomorphology of Central Gangetic Basin -- 8.3 Case Study 1: Paleolake Investigation in Varanasi Combining Surface Geomorphic Feature and Subsurface Sedimentary Architecture -- 8.4 Case Study 2: Shallow Aquifer Investigation in Point Bar of Single-Channel Ganges River at Varanasi Using Ground Penetrating Radar -- 8.5 Discussion -- References -- 9 Groundwater System of National Capital Region Delhi, India -- Abstract -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Population -- 9.3 Land Use/Land Cover -- 9.4 Geology/Geomorphology of NCR Delhi -- 9.5 Hydrogeology -- 9.5.1 Aquifer Characteristics -- 9.5.1.1 Experimentation for Aquifer Characterization -- 9.6 Groundwater Availability. , 9.6.1 Decline in Water Level -- 9.6.2 Recharge Possibilities -- 9.7 Groundwater Quality -- 9.7.1 Hydrochemical Facies Variation in Parts of the NCR -- 9.7.2 Nitrate -- 9.7.3 Fluoride -- 9.7.4 Iron -- 9.7.5 Arsenic and Other Heavy Metals -- 9.8 Surface Water Quality and Remedial Measures -- 9.9 Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 10 Groundwater Resources of Myanmar -- Abstract -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Climate and Rainfall -- 10.3 Physiography and Drainage -- 10.4 Geological Setting -- 10.4.1 The Eastern Highlands and Upper Irrawaddy Province (Tagaung-Myitgyinar Belt) -- 10.4.2 The Central Lowlands -- 10.4.3 The Western Ranges (or) Western Fold Belts -- 10.4.4 Arakan Coastal Belt -- 10.5 Water Resource Potential -- 10.6 Groundwater Resources in Myanmar -- 10.6.1 Kachin State (Northern Areas) -- 10.6.2 Sagaing Region (Northwestern Area) -- 10.6.3 Shan, Kayah, Kayin, Mon States and Tanintharyi Region (E and SE Area) -- 10.6.4 Rakhine and Chin States (Western Area) -- 10.6.5 The Central Area (Mandalay and Magway Regions) -- 10.6.6 The Delta Area (Yangon and Ayeyarwaddy Regions) -- 10.6.7 Bago Region (Southern Area) -- 10.7 Water Quality of Three Major Aquifers -- 10.8 Groundwater Usage -- 10.9 Conclusions -- Data Source -- 11 Groundwater Resources of Nepal: An Overview -- Abstract -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.1.1 Background -- 11.1.1.1 Physiography -- 11.2 General Hydrogeology of Nepal -- 11.3 Hydrogeology of the Terai -- 11.3.1 Regional Hydrogeology -- 11.3.2 Representative Geological Cross Sections of Different Parts of Terai Region -- 11.3.3 District-Wise Groundwater Level and Transmissivity -- 11.3.4 Groundwater Recharge -- 11.3.5 Water Quality -- 11.4 Groundwater Resources in Kathmandu Valley -- 11.4.1 Hydrogeology of Kathmandu Valley -- 11.4.2 Water Demand -- 11.4.3 Stone Spout Discharge -- 11.4.4 Recharge to Aquifers (Rg). , 11.4.5 Water Quality -- 11.4.6 Alternative Sources of Groundwater in the Valley -- References -- Groundwater Quality and Pollution -- 12 Groundwater Quality and Concerns of Kabul River Basin, Afghanistan -- Abstract -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Geomorphology -- 12.3 Topography -- 12.3.1 Geology -- 12.4 Hydrology of Kabul River Basin (Precipitation and Runoff in the Basin) -- 12.5 Water Use in Kabul River Basin -- 12.6 Water Quality Hazards in Kabul River Basin -- References -- 13 An Overview of Groundwater Quality in Bangladesh -- Abstract -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.2 Geology and Landform -- 13.3 Hydrogeological Setting -- 13.4 Hydrogeological Properties -- 13.5 Groundwater Geochemistry of Bangladesh -- 13.6 Arsenic -- 13.7 Iron -- 13.8 Manganese -- 13.9 Nitrate and Ammonia -- 13.10 Sulfate -- 13.11 Methane -- 13.12 Boron -- 13.13 Fluoride -- 13.14 Iodide -- 13.15 Barium -- 13.16 Strontium -- 13.17 Uranium -- 13.18 Fecal Contamination of Groundwater -- 13.19 Groundwater Pollution from Urban Industrial Areas -- 13.20 Agrichemicals -- 13.21 Saltwater Intrusion -- 13.22 Consequences of Groundwater Overdraft -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 14 Isotope Tracer Applications in Groundwater Hydrology: A Review of Indian Scenario -- Abstract -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Isotope Tracers for Groundwater Hydrology -- 14.3 Isotope Applications in Groundwater -- 14.4 Groundwater Age Determination -- 14.5 Groundwater Recharge Estimation -- 14.6 Understanding Surface Water-Groundwater Interaction -- 14.7 Origin and Propagation of Natural Contaminants -- 14.8 Hydrothermal Circulation and Tectonic Fabric -- 14.9 Paleoclimatic Imprints -- 14.10 IWIN National Programme -- 14.11 Epilogue -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 15 An Overview of Agricultural Pollutants and Organic Contaminants in Groundwater of India -- Abstract -- 15.1 Introduction. , 15.2 Present Scenario of Agricultural Pollution in Groundwater in India -- References -- 16 A Comparative Analysis of Fluoride Contamination in a Part of Western India and Indus River Basin -- Abstract -- 16.1 Introduction -- 16.2 Materials and Methods -- 16.2.1 Study Area -- 16.2.2 Sample Collection and Analysis -- 16.3 Result and Discussion -- 16.3.1 Distribution of Major Ions -- 16.3.2 Correlation Between Major Ions -- 16.3.3 Hydrogeochemical Processes -- 16.3.3.1 Weathering and Dissolution -- 16.3.3.2 Evaporation -- 16.3.3.3 Ion-Exchange -- 16.4 Geochemical Modeling -- 16.4.1 Hydrochemical Facies -- 16.4.2 Saturation Indices -- 16.5 Fluoride Enrichment -- 16.6 Conclusion -- References -- 17 Groundwater Chemistry and Arsenic Enrichment of the Ganges River Basin Aquifer Systems -- Abstract -- 17.1 Introduction -- 17.2 Upper and Central Gangetic Basin Aquifers -- 17.2.1 The Aquifers -- 17.2.2 Hydrochemical Studies -- 17.2.3 Arsenic Distribution -- 17.3 Lower Gangetic Basin Aquifers -- 17.3.1 The Aquifers -- 17.3.2 Hydrogeochemistry -- 17.3.3 Groundwater Arsenic -- References -- 18 Groundwater Quality, Contamination, and Processes in Brahmaputra River Basin Aquifers -- Abstract -- 18.1 Introduction -- 18.2 Study Area -- 18.3 Methods -- 18.4 Results and Discussion -- 18.4.1 Groundwater Chemistry -- 18.4.2 Arsenic in Groundwater -- 18.5 Synthesis -- References -- 19 Groundwater Quality of Meghna River Basin Aquifers -- Abstract -- 19.1 Introduction -- 19.2 Groundwater Chemistry -- 19.2.1 Major Solutes and Hydrochemical Facies -- 19.2.2 Minor Solutes, Redox Environment, and Groundwater Contaminants -- 19.3 Hydrogeochemical Relationships and Processes -- References -- 20 The Groundwater Flow, Chemistry and Pollutant Distribution in the Bengal Basin, Bangladesh and India -- Abstract -- 20.1 Introduction -- 20.1.1 Basin Boundaries. , 20.1.2 Physiographic Units.