Geospatial technologies and multi-criteria decision analysis for delineating groundwater recharge zones in Varadaiahpalem Mandal, Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Groundwater sustainability is critical to providing a secure water supply in regions experiencing significant water stress, an objective emphasized by both UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The present study applies geospatial tools and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to identify groundwater recharge zones in Varadaiahpalem Mandal, Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) data were combined with hydrogeological parameters (rainfall, slope, soil type, land use/land cover, geology, geomorphology, drainage density, and lineament density) to assess recharge potential. The analysis classified the study area into five recharge potential zones: Very Poor (12.05 km 2 ), Poor (42.34 km 2 ), Moderate (193.64 km 2 ), High (66.09 km 2 ) and Very High (4.76 km 2 ). The corresponding spatial map provides a basis for designing locally targeted strategies to enhance groundwater recharge. Although the principal aim of this work is to support water planners with improved recharge assessments, the findings also have implications for SDG 15 (Life on Land) by informing measures that may strengthen community resilience to climate variability and contribute to ecosystem protection for sustainable water provisioning.