Groundwater mapping of urban and coastal areas in Brunei

Groundwater mapping plays an important role in effective water resource management, sustainable development, and environmental protection. In the tropical Brunei Darussalam (north Borneo Island), groundwater mapping is yet to be provided. The aim of the study is to provide groundwater mapping of Brunei, particularly for the urban and coastal areas of the Brunei-Muara capital district. The study uses a GIS interpolation technique to generate a groundwater contour map based on groundwater data from 572 sacrificial boreholes located in the study area. Remote sensing data and published maps from secondary sources were digitised in ArcGIS software to produce thematic layers for further hydrological evaluations. Results showed that groundwater levels in the study area are generally high and shallow, ranging from 0 to 18 m below ground level with a mean value of 2.9 m. According to the evaluation of geo-thematic layers and groundwater contours, groundwater flows towards the South China Sea in the coastal areas and towards the Brunei River further inland. Hydraulic gradients towards the South China Sea also vary between 0.004 and 0.08. Thus, assuming surface aquifer thickness in the weathered zone between 10 to 20 m, hydraulic conductivities ranges from 1∙10−5 to 1∙10−4 m∙s−1, a submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) flux between 4.7∙10−7 to 4.0∙10−4 m3∙s−1 per unit width can be estimated for the shallow aquifer. This study provides valuable insights into the groundwater system dynamics so important, which are critical for its future utilisation and protection, aiming to contribute to the national water security in Brunei Darussalam.