A DISCUSSION OF GROUNDWATER DETERIORATION BY MEANS OF ITS

RECHARGE WITHIN THE SOUTHERN PART OF MERAPI VOLCANO

by :
Tjahyo Nugroho Adji , Faculty of Geography, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia (adji_bruang@yahoo.com) 1
M. Hendy Noordianto, Faculty of Geography, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia (hendy_noordianto@yahoo.com) 2

ABSTRACT

Along with the data and visual observation, the groundwater level in the southern part of
Merapi volcano decreased significantly every year. Consequently, some people are being required
to deepen their well to sustain the water potency up to 5 meters every year. By this condition, it may
be concluded that this area is experiencing the declining rate of groundwater recharge. Groundwater
recharge, which is here meant as the amount of effective precipitation that is infiltrated into
unsaturated zone and then percolated as a water yield to water table after exceeds the soil field
capacity will be the main subject of discussion in this article. The main objective of this research is
to find the relationship between topographic condition and the characteristic of groundwater
recharge. In addition, this research is also aimed to evaluate the physical aspects of Yogyakarta
Municipality recharge area.
This research was conducted in the southern part of Merapi volcano that is intimately
recognized as a major recharge area of Yogyakarta municipality. Four wells with Automatic Water
Level Recorder were installed in every geomorphologic unit to record the shallow groundwater
table fluctuation within dry and wet season with the intention of achieving the spatial rate of
groundwater recharge by using Watertable Fluctuation Method (WTF).
The result confirms that geomorphologic unit may be mainly control to the time series
variation of shallow groundwater fluctuation. Furthermore, the unit of volcanic slope (above 600 m
asl) can be identified as the principal recharge zone of Yogyakarta municipality since its resistant
comportment to the impact of dry season in groundwater fluctuation. The slope of groundwater
fluctuation is 0,010084, the lowest one compared to that in another geomorphic unit. In addition,
the yearly total of recharge in this zone is 4270 mm. Also, this area has positive value of recharge
characteristics such as high rate of infiltration, total rainfall, and soil moisture over a year period.
However, this observation also indicates that the sharp escalating of land use conversion into
settlement is to be occurred in this zone.

BACKGROUND SITUATION
1
and
2
Department of Physical Geography, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia 55281
 The occurrence of groundwater recharge is the most important source to supply groundwater
within an aquifer. Some researches such as Suharyadi, dkk (1997), and McDonalds and Partners
(1983) as well as government policies always point out that the sustainability of groundwater in
Yogyakarta Municipality depends on the circumstance of the southern slope of Merapi Volcano as
the main recharge area. However, according to Winaryo (1997), the current development of
Yogyakarta Municipality tends to move further north in the decade of 1990-2000. He also opines
that the rapid developments is attributable to the growth triangle of Islamic Indonesian University
(UII), Kaliurang Tourism Forest, and Golf Course of Cangkringan, which consequence to the
increasing number of physical properties and convert the land cover of the recharge area,
considerably.
Two factors direct to the condition of groundwater magnitude within an aquifer are: (1)
natural factor such as climate, topography, and geology; (2) non-natural factor such as human
activities (Fetter, 1988). Non-naturally, as the land conversion into settlements in the southern slope
of Merapi volcano will result to the decreasing capacity of rain water infiltration and subsequently
reduce the rate of recharge.
Until now, the recharge zone aspects within the south of Merapi have not been assessed yet.
In addition, the yearly magnitude of groundwater recharge has not been also calculated
quantitatively. Thus, estimating groundwater recharge accurately is required since the essential
function of this zone to recharge groundwater for future Yogyakarta Municipality. So that, the main
objective of this research is to find the relationship between topographic condition and the
characteristic of groundwater recharge as well as to quantify the rate of its recharge in every
geomorphic unit. In addition, this research is also aimed to evaluate the physical aspects of
Yogyakarta Municipality recharge area.
METHOD
This research employs Watertable Fluctuation Method (WTF) to estimate groundwater
recharge based on the fluctuation of one year water table. WTF method is the most popular and
simple method to quantify groundwater recharges in view of the fact that only need the data of
water table fluctuation and specific yield (Healy and Cook, 2002). In addition, the advantage of
WTF method is in its insensitiveness according to the water movement within unsaturated zone
(Vries and Simmer, 2002; Goes, 1999). Actually, there are some another methods for quantifying
groundwater recharge such Darcys Law (Belan and Matlock, 1973); tracer-chloride method
(Scanlon,et al. 2002), and numerical modeling (Flint, et.al., 2002).
The research area situated in the southern slope of Merapi Volcano and bounded by Boyong
River in the west and Kuning River in the eastern side (Figure 1). In terms of volcano morphology,
Ramelan (1999) points out that slope can be used to distinct its landform unit. Geomorphologically,
the research area composed by three volcanic typical units: volcanic slope, volcanic foot slope, and
fluvio volcanic foot plain. As consequences, the placement of observation well with Automatic
Water Level Recorder (AWLR) is positioned in accordance with the distribution of geomorphologic
unit, as presented in Table 1 and Figure 2.

2
 430000mT 435000 440000mT

Research Map Location and

Observation Well Distribution
O bservation W ell1
Tanen

#1
Y Inzet
U
0 1 2 Km DESA HARGOBINANGUN
Slem an
#
DIY
9155000mU

9155000mU
Kulonprogo Yogyakarta
# #

Bantul
#

Gunungkidul
#

DESA CANDIBINANGUN Research Location

KECAMATAN PAKEM
Legend DESA PAKEMBINANGUN
KECAMATAN CANGKRINGAN

# 1..,4
Y Observation Wells
Collector Road
Local Road DESA HARJO BINANGUN
Pakem

K . Kun
River
Village Boundary

ing
District Boundary
DESA UMBULMARTANI
9150000

9150000
O bservation W ell2
Sukoharjo

KECAMATAN SLEMAN 2
#
Y
KECAMATAN NGAGLIK
DESA SARDONOHARJO
DESA SUKOHARJO
g
K. Boyon

O bservation W ell3
W edom artani

O bservation W ell4
3
B anteng #
Y
9145000

9145000

KECAMATAN NGEMPLAK
DESA WEDOMARTANI
4
#
Y
DESA SINDUHARJO

DESA MINOMARTANI
KECAMATAN KALASAN
KECAMATAN MLATI DESA SINDUADI

DESA CONDONGCATUR
KECAMATAN DEPOK

DESA MAG UWO HARJO

9140000mU

9140000mU

Source : Digital Topographic Indonesia Map Scale 1: 25.000.

Sheet Kaliurang, Pakem, dan Timoho Year 2000
430000mT 435000 440000mT

Figure 1. The Situation of Research Area

3
 Table 1. Location of Observation Wells
UTM X UTM Y
No Location Morphology
coordinate Coordinate
1 Tanen 436200 9156800 volcanic slope
2 Sukoharjo 437000 9148900 volcanic foot slope
3 Wedomartani 436200 9145700 volcanic foot slope
4 Banteng 432800 9144700 fluvio volcanic foot plain

Volcanic Cone
Volcanic Cone

Volcanic Slope
Volcanic Slope

Well 1
Volcanic Foot Slope
Tanen Volcanic Foot Slope

Well 2 Fluvio Volcanic

Sukoharjo Well 3 Fluvio Volcanic
Foot Plain
Wedomartani Foot Plain
Well 4
Banteng

Figure 2. The Division of Geomorphic Unit

Watertable Fluctuation Method (WTF) primarily requires data of water table fluctuationy
within an unconfined aquifer and the data of Spesific Yield (Sy) of the aquifer (Healy and Cook,
2002). Thus, the formula is:
R = Sy dh/dt = Sy (h/t)

Where Sy : spesific yield

h : water table fluctuation,
t : time.

4
 Data of water table increase derived from yearly watertable fluctuation data subsequent to
graphically exposed. Accordingly, dh is defined by observe the difference level between the lowest
level and the peaklevelof water table. Then, dt also can be derived according to its annual
fluctuation (see Figure 3).

This method is simply and easily to be applied within unconfined aquifer with swift
variation of water table. However, the disadvantage of this method is the difficulty to define exact
value of spesific yield and the steadfastness that the fluctuation is not being looked upon as a result
of pumping activities. In addition, due to the limited equipment and availibility of fully penetrated
observation well, weighted average method of borehole data is then used to define the value of Sy,
which is:

Sy = (Sy1 x thickness of 1st layer) + (Sy2 x thickness of 2nd layer) + (Syn x thickness of n layer)
total thickness of unconfined aquifer
Where:
Sy : average Sy
Sy1, Sy2.Syn : Sy in every thickness

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

1. Tanen Observation Well
This well located within volcanic slope unit and elevation of 644 m asl, with topographic
slope of 200 to 400. The WTF parameter of dh calculated after graphically plotted is 2.67 meter and
time difference is 52 days, as illustrated in Figure 3.

dh and dt value of Tanen Well

630,5

630

629,5

629
dh = 2,67 m
head (masl)

628,5

628

627,5

627

626,5 dt = 52 days
626
daysdaysaysari
Jul-03 Agust-03 Sep-03 Okt-03 Nop-03 Des-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 Mei-04 Jun-04 Jul-04
Month

Figure 3. Value of dh and dt in Tanen Well

5
 Next, according to the borehole data, the aquifer in surrounding of Tanen well consists of
coarse to fine sand and coarse to fine gravel. Additionally, the depth of unconfined aquifer is
approximately 30 meters with the confining basement of andhesite fragment. Then, the result of Sy
calculation by weighted average method is roughly 0,228. Then, the magnitude of groundwater
recharge in Tanen well is:

R dh / dt.Sy

= (2.67 / 52) x 0.228

= 0.0117 m/day, or
= 4270 mm/year

2. Sukoharjo Observation Well

This well situated inside volcanic foot slope unit and altitude of 305 m asl, with topographic
slope of 80 to 200. The WTF parameter of dh calculated after graphically plotted is 5.63 meter and
time difference betwwen the peak and lowest
Grafik water
Fluktuasi levelAirtanah
Muka is 95 days, as shown in Figure 4.
Bulanan
(Lokasi Sukoharjo)

293 dh and dt value of Sukoharjo Well

292 293
291 292
290
Tma (mdpal)

291 dh = 5,63 m
289 290
dh = 5,31 m
head (masl)

288 289
287 288
286 287
285 286
dt = 95 days dt = 95 hari
284 285
Agust-03 Sep-03 Okt-03 Okt-03 Nop-03 Des-03 J an-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 Mei-04 J un-04 J ul-04
284
Agust-03 Sep-03 Okt-03 Okt-03 Nop-03 Des-03 Bulan
Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 Mei-04 Jun-04 Jul-04
Months

Figure 4. Value of dh and dt in Sukoharjo Well

.
According to the borehole data, the aquifer material in the vicinity of Sukoharjo well
consists of coarse to fine sand and clay. Furthermore, the depth of unconfined aquifer is about 72
meters with the confining basement of impermeable andhesite fragment. Then, the result of Sy
calculation by weighted average method is approximately 0,256. Subsequently, the magnitude of
groundwater recharge in Sukoharjo well is:

6
 R dh / dt.Sy

= (5.31 / 95) x 0,256

= 0.0143 m/day, or
= 5220 mm/year

3. Wedomartani Observation Well

This well located within volcanic foot slope unit and elevation of 219 m asl. The WTF
parameter of dh calculated after graphically plotted is 4.58 meter and time difference is 93 days, as
illustrated in Figure 5.

dh and dt Value in Wedomartani Well

214

213

212
head (masl)

211
dh = 3,73 m
210

209

208
dt = 93 days
207
Jul-03 Agust-03 Sep-03 Okt-03 Nop-03 Des-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 Mei-04 Jun-04 Jul-04

Months

Figure 5. Value of dh and dt in Wedomartani Well

Consistent with the borehole data, the aquifer material in the vicinity of Wedomartani well
consists of coarse to fine sand and clay. Furthermore, the depth of unconfined aquifer is about 72
meters with the confining basement of impermeable andhesite fragment. Then, the result of Sy
calculation is approximately 0,261. Subsequently, the magnitude of groundwater recharge in
Wedomartani well is:
R dh / dt.Sy

= (3.73 / 93) x 0.261

= 0.0104 m/day, or
= 3820 mm/year

7
4. Banteng Observation Well
This well situated within fluvio volcanic foot plain, elevation below 150 m asl, with
topographic slope of 10 to 80. The WTF parameter of dh calculated after graphically plotted is 5.59
meter and time difference betwwen the peak and lowest water level is 119 days, as shown in Figure
6.

dh and dt value of Banteng Well

190

188
head (masl)

186 dh = 5,59 m

184

182
dt = 119 days

180
Jul-03 Agust-03 Sep-03 Okt-03 Nop-03 Des-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 Mei-04 Jun-04 Jul-04
Months

Figure 5. Value of dh and dt in Banteng Well

According to the borehole data, the aquifer material in the vicinity of Banteng well consists
of coarse to fine sand and fine gravel. Moreover, the depth of unconfined aquifer is about 26 meters
with the confining basement of impermeable andhesite fragment. Then, the result of Sy calculation
by weighted average method is approximately 0.26. Subsequently, the magnitude of groundwater
recharge in Sukoharjo well is:

R dh / dt.Sy

= (5.59 / 119) x 0.26

= 0.0122 m/day, or
= 4450 mm/year

Then, the value of recharge parameters in all observation wells are summarized in Table 2.

8
 Table 2. dh, dt, Sy and Recharge Value in research area

Well Location dh (m) dt (day) Sy R (mm/year) Morphology

Tanen 2,67 52 0.228 4270 volcanic slope
Sukoharjo 5,31 95 0.256 5220 volcanic foot slope
Wedomartani 3,73 93 0.261 3820 volcanic foot slope
Banteng 5,59 119 0.260 4450 fluvio volcanic foot plain
Source: data analysis (2004)

According to the estimation of groundwater recharge in 4 observation wells that represent

variation of morphology in southern slope of Merapi Volcano, it can be concluded that the
magnitude differs, noticeably. The biggest recharge found in Sukoharjo Well (volcanic foot slope)
and then followed by Tanen Well (volcanic slope),Banteng Well and lastly Wedomartani Well. In
addition, by looking at the fluctuation of watertable in all wells, it seems that Tanen Well has the
lowest slope of fluctation between dry and rain season by only 0,010084, meant that the primary
recharge zone occurs in this morphology. Another explanation should be considered as Sukoharjo
Well has the greatest magnitude of recharge, that has two type of recharge which are local and
recharge comes from its upper morphologic unit (volcanic slope-Tanen).
However, by field visual observation, it seems that both area surrounding Tanen and
Sukoharjo has already converted into settlement area which are not conducive in recharging
rainwater to aquifer.

REFERENCES

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dipublikasikan), Yogyakarta.
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