Assessing groundwater resources in coastal area: a case study in Myanmar

Coastal aquifers are of a great relevance for human needs because coastal areas are often densely populated. To meet the needs of the people living in coastal area and to assess the groundwater resources for the future, we need to know the main characteristics of these aquifers. A preliminary hydrogeological assessment is conducted in order to point out the main questions encountered. Then, a geophysical survey is designed to answer these questions. Finally, the economical impact of integrated hydro-geophyscial approach is calculated. This paper presents the main results of a survey conducted in Myanmar. We found that the joint use of hydrogeological data (boreholes and pumping tests) with appropriate geophysics (magnetic resonance sounding and electrical resistively measurements) improves significantly the knowledge of coastal groundwater resources. The presence of groundwater, its available quantity but also its salinity can be reasonably estimated from surface geophysical measurements.