2 Advances in characterizing groundwater, surface water, and their interactions

This session focuses on characterizing groundwater, surface water, and their interactions through fieldwork, modeling, and data synthesis. We welcome submissions addressing flow, transport, water quality, and water levels under both typical and extreme conditions.

Sunday, 22 March 2026
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CCC, Room 25

Enhancing Irrigation Efficiency and Groundwater Sustainability in Bangladesh: Multifaceted Benefits of Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP) Networks with Underground Water Delivery

Paper number: 2-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 11:20 AM – 11:40 AM

Authors

Abstract

The rapid expansion of solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) in Bangladesh has fundamentally transformed groundwater-based irrigation for Boro rice cultivation, particularly in the northwestern and west-central regions where surface-water availability is limited. While SIPs provide clear environmental and economic advantages by replacing diesel-powered systems with renewable solar energy, the long-term sustainability of groundwater abstraction remains a critical concern under increasing climatic variability. To address conveyance inefficiencies associated with traditional open-channel irrigation, the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) introduced enclosed underground water-delivery systems within SIP networks.

This study quantifies seasonal water conservation achieved through underground pipeline delivery using detailed IDCOL infrastructure datasets, including approximately 3.79 million feet of installed pipelines, and compares them with conventional earthen canal systems. Conveyance losses from earthen canals, commonly estimated at ~25%, were used as a baseline. Results indicate that underground delivery systems effectively eliminate these losses, conserving approximately 3 billion liters of water per growing season. This reduction represents a substantial improvement in irrigation efficiency and directly contributes to groundwater conservation by minimizing unnecessary abstraction.

Beyond hydrologic benefits, SIP adoption also generates important social and livelihood co-benefits. Farmers reported reduced physical and mental burdens due to the elimination of diesel pump operation and fuel procurement. Additionally, centralized pump operation allowed irrigation without farmers’ continuous presence in the field, enabling greater flexibility for household, agricultural, and off-farm activities. The transition from an open-canal irrigation to enclosed underground delivery systems represents a significant advancement toward agricultural water management in Bangladesh. By coupling renewable energy with efficient water conveyance, SIP networks enhance food security, reduce environmental impacts, and strengthen the sustainability of shallow aquifer systems in intensively cultivated regions.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 2

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026NE-411231

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