Abstract
Groundwater recharge estimation is essential for sustainable water management and water supply schemes. In this paper, we review groundwater recharge estimation techniques and identify the appropriate methods by considering India’s hydrological and climatic conditions. Significant components of recharge, factors affecting groundwater recharge, aquifer systems of India, and historical groundwater recharge estimation practices are reviewed. Currently used recharge estimation methods are assessed based on case studies. The most popular estimation methods are studied and compared based on their application in various regions. It is observed that the accuracy of the recharge estimates is largely influenced by false assumptions, the possibility of erroneous measurements, a potential lack of reliable data, and a variety of problems associated with parameter estimation. The suitability of different methods for a region is found to depend on time and space considerations, the objective of the study, hydrogeological condition, and availability of data. In Indian conditions, it is suggested to use water table fluctuation and water balance methods for the recharge estimation, provided that accurate water level measurements are assured.
Highlights
Increasing urbanization, industrialization, and population growth continuously increase the demand for water on a global scale
In the case of a typical unconfined aquifer, the major factors that contribute to the inflow and outflow components are recharged from rain, canals, irrigation, tanks, influent recharge from rivers, inflow from other basins, draft from groundwater, discharge to rivers, outflow to other basins, etc
The basic concept behind this technique is the correlation between groundwater recharge and hydraulic conductivity, and the reliability of the latter is the decisive factor of an accurate estimation [26,47,58]
Summary
Increasing urbanization, industrialization, and population growth continuously increase the demand for water on a global scale. Analyzing rainfall patterns, frequency, number of rainy days, and maximum rainfall in a day and its variation in space and time are the important factors influencing the recharge [14] Surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, canal seepage, surface, groundwater irrigation [15], and snow melting in the Himalayas contribute to groundwater recharge [16]. 74% of households, and those remaining have no access to these facilities Considering this situation in India, there must be adequate water resources management, and it is essential to implement measures to increase groundwater recharge. The “Ground Water Estimation Committee” (GEC) proposed a definite scientific norm only in 1984 They recommended two methods: groundwater level fluctuation (WLF) and specific yield method, and the rainfall infiltration method for the groundwater resource assessment. Our aim with this paper is to review existing groundwater recharge estimation techniques globally and critically assess these methods in Indian conditions, and to choose appropriate recharge estimation techniques based on hydrological, hydrogeological, climatic, and time and space constraints
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