Artificial Recharge Of Aquifers Research Articles

Water Sowing and Harvesting (WS&H) for Sustainable Management in Ecuador: A Review

Water Sowing and Harvesting (WS&H) is an ancestral knowledge widely used as a sustainable technique in water management. This study aims to analyse the importance, promotion, and cultural heritage of WS&H techniques through a literature review in Ecuador, considering applications of ancestral techniques by region (coastal, Andean and insular) with a strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats (SWOTs) analysis and a focus group for a strategy proposal of the water supply. The methodology of this study includes the following: (i) an analysis of the evolution of WS&H studies in Ecuador; (ii) a presentation of WS&H techniques and their applications; and (iii) the contribution of WS&H to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), complemented by a SWOTs analysis. The results show that, in Ecuador, WS&H is a method of Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) applied to the problems of water scarcity and is affordable, ecological, and has high efficiency, improving agricultural productivity and guaranteeing water supply for human consumption. The Manglaralto coastal aquifer, a case study in the coastal region of Ecuador, involves WS&H management and artificial aquifer recharge. WS&H structures became a reference for the sustainable development of rural communities that can be replicated nationally and internationally as a resilient alternative to water scarcity and a global climate emergency, contributing to the SDGs of UNESCO.

STUDY OF LONG-TERM WATER SUPPLY IN THE AREA OF MUNICIPALITY OF TEŠANJ, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

<p>This paper examines the issue of water supply in the municipality of Tešanj, which has been identified as crucial for many years due to the indispensable nature of water as a basic resource necessary for life. The available capacity of the Kraševo-Jelah-Tešanj central water supply system is 47 l/s. By calculating the daily water demand in the area, we determine a water deficit of 51.11 l/s, which needs to be addressed. The analysis and synthesis of data during the preparation of the study leads to the proposition of an artificial aquifer recharge system as a solution to the long-term water supply problem in the mentioned area.</p>

Machine learning for faster estimates of groundwater response to artificial aquifer recharge

Groundwater models are a valuable tool in optimising the decisions influencing groundwater flow. Spatially distributed models represent the groundwater level in the entire area from where essential information can be extracted, directly aiding in the decision-making process. However, these models are time-consuming, limiting the number of scenarios that can be considered. This study explores different machine learning (ML) models as faster alternatives to predict the increase in steady-state groundwater head due to artificial recharge in the unconfined aquifer while considering a wider spatial extent (832 columns x 1472 rows totalling 765 km2) than previous ML groundwater models. We trained three ML models (encoder-decoder, U-Net, and attention U-Net) with various hypothetical artificial recharge sites (100, 300, 500, and 1000 sites) in the Baakse Beek catchment (the Netherlands), using a detailed numerical groundwater model, AMIGO. The applied recharge rate along with geo-hydrological properties from the AMIGO baseline run were used as inputs to the ML models. The properties’ permutation importance indicated that all properties of the first aquifer were important to predicting the response and were included when training the ML models. All three ML models improved with additional training sites but showed limited benefits from more than 500 recharge sites. Of the three ML models, U-Net and Attention U-Net outperformed the encoder-decoder. These two models achieved Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of more than 0.8 when trained with 300 or more recharge sites. U-Net trained on 1000 recharge sites had the highest overall NSE of 0.95. U-Net better captures input features with highly variable spatial characteristics, such as rivers and drains which influence the maximum height of the groundwater response. The model captured the influence of the input features on the response, reproducing the response patterns across the entire catchment. Finally, we showed that the trained ML models are faster than the numerical model, predicting within 0.24 s (97th percentile), making it ideal for optimising decisions.

Modeling groundwater to assess the effect of artificial recharge (Kerbala, Iraq)

ABSTRACT Aquifer artificial recharge is one method of restoring groundwater supplies and storing extra water to compensate for losses. In this regard, this research simulates the Dammam aquifer in the MODFLOW code in GMS software. The other objective is to simulate the effect of artificial recharge on groundwater levels in the Dammam-confined aquifer in Iraq. Modeling was done by specifying boundaries and initial conditions. The model was calibrated for steady and unsteady conditions. The calibrated model was utilized to predict groundwater levels in 2030 and assess five artificial recharge scenarios with different proportions of injection water. The water source in the simulation recharge model was excess water from sand-washing plants. The effect of these scenarios was evaluated on the available monitoring wells. The artificial recharge by injecting 60% of the daily excess water into 15 and 51 wells showed a maximum groundwater level increment of about 17–30%, respectively.

Resilient agriculture: water management for climate change adaptation in Lower Saxony

Abstract Climate change has increased the intensity, frequency and duration of heatwaves and droughts in Europe turning water management into an even more complicated issue. Because water is a fundamental resource for agriculture, water management has to be addressed with climate change adaptation. While stakeholders in Lower Saxony are aware of adaptation measures they could implement to dampen the effects of climate change, evidence of the effectiveness of adaptation measures at a local scale is still missing. An analysis of adaptation measures using a new hydrological model was performed to test four adaptation measures suggested by stakeholders. Changing crops has the strongest effect followed by improving irrigation efficiency, humification and, finally, artificial aquifer recharge. If crops are changed, irrigation water demand and energy consumption could be reduced by up to 20.7%, costs could be reduced in 19.1%, the aquifer level could rise up to 284.85 mm and emissions could be reduced by 26.6% by the end of the century. Artificial recharge proved to be an inadequate method for the region as it does not impact the irrigation water demand, and an insufficient amount of water is available to have a substantial effect on the aquifer.

Sustainable Management of Aquaculture and Water Footprint Analysis in Sunderban

India is the world’s second-largest producer of fish, where the state of West Bengal is leading in fish production. The Sundarbans, located in the southern part of India’s West Bengal state, is a UNESCO-designated world heritage site. The Indian Sundarbans is a tide-dominated region in the southern part of deltaic West Bengal, and is home to 4.43 million people. Even though it is traversed by numerous creeks and rivulets and receives a significant amount of precipitation during the monsoon season, freshwater is a scarce resource in the Sundarbans. During the dry season, there is a lack of fresh water above and below the ground, increasing siltation results in shallower channels, high salinity of the water and soil, and congestion in drainage making it difficult for people to make a living. During the dry season, most blocks experience water scarcity as a result of the ever-increasing population’s demand for water. According to this study, Sundarbans’ current annual domestic and drinking water demands are 105.1 mcm and 8.08 mcm, respectively. By combining the area under various crops and their lifecycle water requirements, the water demand for agriculture has been calculated to be 2782.83 mcm. The rainfall-runoff modelling aims to get a general idea of how much fresh water is available each year through surface runoff. It has also been estimated how much water is available from different sources in each block. It is estimated that deep and shallow bore wells contribute approximately 400 mcm, whereas surface water sources like tanks and canals contribute approximately 50 mcm. The communities that live in the Sundarbans eco-region benefit greatly from aquaculture’s contribution to their socio-economic development. For the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Sundarbans Delta, strong technical, financial and extension services from government organisations and research institutions are urgently required to meet these obstacles. Additionally, this study emphasises that roof-top rainwater harvesting in this region has the potential to supply 45 mcm more water, which could be used to partially satisfy the region’s domestic water demand. Future major policy options for meeting the Sundarbans ecoregion’s water demand include large-scale rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation and reconnection of disconnected river channels, artificial recharge of shallow aquifers to lower their salinity, and de-salination of shallow groundwater.

Élet az édesvízhiánnyal: vízkészlet-gazdálkodás Namíbiában

Namibia is an arid country in Southern Africa. It frequently experiences a state of freshwater deficit and must employ a range of measures to manage this scarce resource sustainably and equitably. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform coordinates the water sector. A state-owned enterprise, NamWater, is the bulk water supplier and manages large water infrastructure. The country follows a policy of integrated water resource management and has devolved some of the decision-making on water issues to river basin level. Transboundary catchments are managed through legal agreements and multinational permanent commissions representing the basin states. Technologies such as dams in ephemeral rivers, intra- and inter-basin water transfer schemes, reclamation of wastewater to potable standards, artificial aquifer recharge, desalination, and conjunctive use of various water sources are employed to supply water to consumers. Water demand management, particularly education, information, restrictions and tariffs, curbs wasteful use of water.

Effects of Surface Water on Artificial Recharge of Coastal Aquifers by GIS Zoning Maps: A Case Study in Ghaemshahr, Iran

Background: The study aimed to assess surface water resources for potential use during non-irrigation seasons to boost groundwater aquifers. This method also helps reduce aquifer depletion, mitigate land subsidence, and enhance groundwater quality. Methods: In this study, artificial feeding methods were used to determine the appropriate location for the Ghaemshahr plain. Water resources were tested in terms of quantity and quality through field and laboratory studies. Based on the findings, geographic information system (GIS) mapping was utilized to create maps and select the best location and feeding method. Results: The most important source of nutrition for recharging the aquifer in terms of quantity and quality was the Talar River. The study area’s conditions like aquifer thickness, permeability, topographic slope, and land use were analyzed using GIS and thematic maps. The results indicated that by using these methods, it is possible to store 5 million cubic meters of surface water in the aquifer for 6 months. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of using surface waters in the area for artificial feeding, employing the pond method1. Additionally, it is recommended to dig measuring wells to monitor the water level rise at the bottom of the pond 1. It also suggests the use of simulation software like PMVIN, Mod flow, and GMS to optimize the artificial replenishment process and select the most suitable approach from the defined scenarios before taking any actions.

Network dynamics for modelling artificial groundwater recharge by a cluster of infiltration basins

AbstractIn this paper we propose a simple approach for modelling the functioning of a cluster of interconnected infiltration basins: such a modelling is crucial for correctly managing artificial aquifer recharge. We model and dynamically quantify the flow from the bottom of each basin, towards the outer walls of the cluster, and between adjacent basins: as a result of this modelling, saturated hydraulic conductivity parameters are estimated. This goal is accomplished simply by using mass balance arguments and Darcy's law, considering only water levels data and the total water inflow daily bestowed to the trenches; by using a declipping technique, automated recorded data are suitably filtered; then, from these data, an efficient algorithm is implemented for determining which basin is instantaneously fed. This approach can be used for managing the efficiency and performance of such facilities over time, and it can be easily generalized. The model is tested over a real‐life site in Castellana Grotte (Southeastern Italy), where an infiltration basins cluster is used as final receptor of the effluents from a tertiary treatment wastewater plant.Novelty and International Appeal StatementWe propose a simple approach for modelling the functioning of a cluster of interconnected infiltration basins. By a dynamical systems approach, we model the flow from the bottom of each basin, towards outer walls of the cluster, and between adjacent basins: as a result, saturated hydraulic conductivity parameters are estimated.

SD-DSS model of sustainable groundwater resources management using the water-food-energy security Nexus in Alborz Province

Unbalanced development of Alborz Province in recent years has amplified groundwater security crisis as well as water stress. This study conducted dynamic decision support system modelling of sustainable groundwater resources management based on water-food-energy security nexus (WFESN-SD-DSS). Using the results, the scenarios were designed in three categories of solutions: 1- Groundwater resources security; 2- Groundwater resources security; and 3- Groundwater resources security. The WFEN-SD-DSS model findings implied that combined policies represented the best solution and these included: Aquifer artificial recharge of 10 million cubic meters per year; control of well water usage; exploitation and reuse of graywater to supply 10% of agricultural water; 10% development of irrigation efficiency using novel irrigation systems; 10% reduction of agricultural waste; 10% development of the performance of agricultural products by modifying seeds, conserving plants; 5% reduction of electrical energy dissipation in combined cycle power plants; and development of solar water pump systems in agriculture sector.

Artificial recharge of aquifers to sustain resource example of the Moulle treatment plant

La nappe souterraine de Houlle-Moulle située à 40 km de Dunkerque est la seule ressource en eau potable pour plus de 215 000 habitants de l’agglomération dunkerquoise. En effet, le territoire dunkerquois ne dispose pas de ressource en eau potable exploitable. Au début des années 1970, le Syndicat de l’Eau du Dunkerquois a initié, de manière visionnaire, une véritable stratégie de gestion intégrée de la ressource en eau. Dès 1973, une unité de réalimentation de la nappe a été créée à Moulle (Pas-de-Calais) afin de sécuriser l’alimentation en eau en réinfiltrant de l’eau de surface pour anticiper un déficit de recharge de la nappe. L’eau de surface est prélevée dans la rivière « la Houlle » et fait l’objet d’un traitement physico-chimique poussé (tamisage, ozonation, décantation ou flottation, filtration sur charbon actif). Cette eau traitée est infiltrée via un bassin de réalimentation aménagé dans la zone de captage sur la craie fissurée. La réalimentation est mise en service sur la base de différents indicateurs (niveaux de la nappe à la fin de la période de recharge, niveaux d’eau dynamiques dans les forages…). Les volumes réalimentés ont largement diminué ces dernières années. Plusieurs facteurs expliquent cette diminution, les prélèvements dans la nappe ont diminué significativement et l’amélioration des connaissances de l’hydrosystème permet de solliciter de manière plus précise l’unité de réalimentation. Cet outil de gestion dynamique de la ressource en eau souterraine est un des outils mobilisables pour anticiper les effets du changement climatique.

Aquifer recharge by stormwater infiltration basins: Hydrological and vadose zone characteristics control the impacts of basins on groundwater chemistry and microbiology

Stormwater infiltration systems (SIS) are designed to collect and infiltrate urban stormwater runoff into the ground for flood risk mitigation and artificial aquifer recharge. Many studies have demonstrated that infiltration practices can impact groundwater chemistry and microbiology. However, quantitative assessments of the hydrogeological factors responsible of these changes remain scarce. Thus, the present study aimed to quantitatively test whether changes of groundwater chemistry and microbiology induced by SIS were linked to two factors associated with vadose zone properties (vadose zone thickness, water transit time from surface to groundwater) and one factor associated with groundwater recharge rate (assessed by groundwater table elevation during rain events). To evaluate changes in chemistry (NO3−, PO43− and dissolved organic carbon concentrations), groundwater samples were collected in wells located in SIS-impacted and non-SIS-impacted zones during experimental periods of 10 days. During the same periods, clay beads were incubated in the same wells to measure changes of groundwater microbial biofilms (microbial biomass, dehydrogenase and hydrolytic activities) induced by SIS. Results showed that changes in PO43− supplied to groundwater during stormwater infiltration was negatively correlated with vadose zone thickness. A short water transit time from surface to groundwater increased dissolved organic carbon concentrations in the aquifer which, in turn, increased biofilm biomasses in groundwater. The groundwater recharge rate during rain events (assessed by groundwater table elevation) diluted NO3− concentrations in the aquifer but also influenced the changes of biofilm activities induced by SIS. Groundwater recharge rate during rain events probably increased the fluxes of water and dissolved organic carbon in groundwater, stimulating the activity of microbial biofilms. Overall, the present study is the first to quantify conjointly several factors and processes (water transfer, dilution, solute fluxes) that could explain the impact of stormwater infiltration on chemistry and/or microbiology in groundwater.

Assessment of Water Supply and Demand, a Case Study of Elfasher Rural Area-North Darfur State

This study was conducted in Elfasher Rural Area. The area is located within North Darfur State. The objectives of this study are to assess Water Supply and Demand Assessment in Rural of Elfasher and possible future scenarios; to provide and highlight the status of water resources in Elfasher Rural, and to give recommendations to take remedial actions and potential solutions for identified problems. The study includes the water supply situation in Elfasher Rural for different areas and evaluates the role of the community in the management part. The data collected from field visits and questionnaires were analyzed: It was found that the main problems in quality were the presence of Nitrate, hardness and bacteriological contamination in the hand pump. In the recommendations, some of them are conducting groundwater monitoring to test groundwater depletion. Promote surface water harvesting and aquifer artificial recharge. Taking immediate action to solve the problems that have been identified.

Artificial aquifer recharge: systematic mapping study

Abstract Groundwater is one of the most important natural resources on the planet Earth. Nevertheless, many aquifers are overexploited especially in arid and semi-arid regions where groundwater is the only source of water supply as surface water resources are limited and insufficient to meet all water needs. The preservation of this resource is paramount to ensure its sustainability, hence the invention of the practice of artificial aquifer recharge (AAR), also known as managed aquifer recharge. It is a practice invented to supplement the replenishment of the aquifer with human-controlled methods to prevent groundwater levels from becoming too low due to over-abstraction. The objective of this paper is to structure the existing AAR literature, highlight the most recent stage and aspects that have been covered, and identify the open issues, knowledge gaps, aspects that require improvement, and the research trends in that field. To this end, a systematic mapping study has been conducted on the literature published about AAR from 2013 until 2015 to categorize and summarize the existing publications concerning the research in that field. Application of the systematic mapping study method resulted in 204 publications which are the relevant papers synthesized following exclusion and inclusion criteria and served to answer 7 research questions defined at the beginning of the study. The obtained results will serve as a basis for future research and will allow the development of a better understanding and a broad overview of this field to direct and guide future AAR projects.

Artificial recharge endeavours in India: A review

In India, artificial recharge (AR) of aquifers is considered a primary supply-side measure to combat the widespread over-exploitation of groundwater. As a major collateral benefit of rainwater harvesting (RWH) is aquifer rejuvenation, both rainwater harvesting and AR are planned and executed as a set of coherent interventions. The Central and state governments have brought in several schemes involving AR and RWH. Moreover, a number of researches are being conducted on how to select the sites for structure construction, the types of structure and their designs depending upon the local hydrogeology, groundwater flow regime, terrain condition and demand of water, and how they impact on resource rejuvenation and improvement in water quality. Various researches are also available on how such endeavors are translating into socio-economic benefits. The paper reviews the researches that have been done in India on these issues and related government policies and schemes under execution. The critical issues like source water availability for recharge, upstream-downstream conflicts, and the rising awareness of different demand-side interventions for sustainable management of groundwater resources have also been discussed.

Experimental Study of Artificial Recharge of Unconfined Groundwater Aquifer for Elected Sites in Salahaddin, Iraq

The study aims to assess the efficiency and susceptibility of aquifers and geological formations in Salahaddin to store excess surface water in rainy and flood seasons, to be alternatives for surface aquifers and to achieve an increase in groundwater levels. Five sites that represent several hydrological basins have been selected for artificial recharge experiments, in which two types of experiments were conducted. In the first, the water was injected into the recharge well with monitoring the level in the same recharge well. In the second, water was injected into the recharge well and the water level was monitored in a close well to the recharge one. Test infusion experiments have been conducted in some locations, and data of water level drawdown was drawn in against time in the form of hydrographs, by using Excel program with attempting to analyze groundwater behavior and movement within the unsaturated layers of the aquifer. Then, the hydraulic properties have also been calculated in some locations from pumping tests or artificial recharge experiments and drawing the hydrograph curve using (Aquifer win32). The study concluded that all the aquifers, in which the artificial recharge experiments were carried out, were very efficient in their response to injections, with minor variations due to heterogeneity of porous media and the thickness of unsaturated zones, which cause different permeability between layers, and different hydraulic properties of aquifers.

A system dynamic approach for reservoir impact assessment on groundwater aquifer considering climate change scenario

With its arid and semi-arid climate, Iran claims about one-third of the world's average annual precipitation. Accordingly, the present study investigated whether an effective water resources management (WRM) strategy (both groundwater and reservoir resources) could reduce groundwater drawdown while simultaneously providing secure enough water for preservation of agricultural activities and rural settlements. For this purpose, a comprehensive system dynamics (SD) model incorporating reservoir, surface-water, and groundwater resources was developed. Then, the model was implemented for the Nesa plain in Bam County, Iran, as an example. In this plain, the construction of a dam to supply drinking water to the cities of Bam and the Bam Industrial Zone had devastated the environment and human communities in the downstream areas, leading to the depopulation of as many as 104 villages in the Bam region. The results of the SD model revealed that the artificial recharge of the plain groundwater aquifer along with the management of the operation of the wells and increasing productivity would be very effective. In order to estimate future precipitation data, the SDSM statistical exponential microscale model was used to microscale the large CanESM2 scale model under two scenarios of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The continuation of the current trend of the groundwater resources in the plain during the next 20 years will also cause a drop in water level of 8.3 m compared with the existing situation and a reduction of 41 m compared with the long-term average of 1980. Based on this modeling effort, upon releasing 60% of river flow, surplus to downstream demand, for recharging aquifer through artificial recharge projects, the rate of water table fall will decline significantly over a 20-year period and the amount of negative aquifer water balance would most likely improve from 65.5 to 35.17 million cubic meters annually.

Artificial recharge by means of careo channels versus natural aquifer recharge in a semi-arid, high-mountain watershed (Sierra Nevada, Spain)

The acequias de careo are ancestral water channels excavated during the early Al-Andalus period (8th–10th centuries), which are used to recharge aquifers in the watersheds of the Sierra Nevada mountain range (Southeastern Spain). The water channels are maintained by local communities, and their main function is collecting snowmelt, but also runoff from rainfall from the headwaters of river basins and distributing it throughout the upper parts of the slopes. This method of aquifer artificial recharge extends the availability of water resources in the lowlands of the river basins during the dry season when there is almost no precipitation and water demand is higher. This study investigates the contribution of the careo channels in the watershed of Bérchules concerning the total aquifer recharge during the 2014–2015 hydrological year. Several channels were gauged, and the runoff data were compared with those obtained from a semi-distributed hydrological model applied to the same hydrological basin. The natural infiltration of meteoric waters accounted for 52% of the total recharge, while the remaining 48% corresponded to water transported and infiltrated by the careo channels. In other words, the careo recharge system enhances by 92% the natural recharge to the aquifer. Our results demonstrate the importance of this ancestral and efficient channel system for recharging slope aquifers developed in hard rocks. The acequias de careo are nature-based solutions for increasing water resources availability that have contributed to a prosperous life in the Sierra Nevada. Its long history (>1200 years) suggests that the system has remarkable resilience properties, which have allowed adaptation and permance for centuries in drastically changing climatic and socioeconomic conditions. This recharge system could also be applied to —or inspire similar adaptation measures in— semi-arid mountain areas around the world where it may help in mitigating climate change effects.

Identifying potential sites for artificial groundwater recharge using GIS and AHP techniques: A case study of Erbil basin, Iraq

Excessive extraction, uncontrolled withdrawal of groundwater, and unregulated practices have caused severe depletion of groundwater resources in the Erbil basin, Iraq. This situation has had a number of negative consequences on human settlement, agricultural activities, clean water supply, and the environment. Runoff harvesting and artificial groundwater recharge play a significant role in the sustainable management of water resources, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This study aims to: (1) delineate groundwater recharge zones using multiple thematic layers that control the groundwater recharge process, and (2) identify prospective sites and structures to perform artificial groundwater recharge. In order to generate a potential map for groundwater recharge zones, seven thematic layers are considered in this study, namely, topographic position index, geomorphology, lithology, land cover, slope, drainage-length density, and lineament-length density. After that, the analytic hierarchy process was applied to weight, rank, and reclassify these seven thematic layers. All maps are then integrated within the ArcGIS environment for delineating groundwater recharge zones. Accordingly, the resulting map categorizes the study area into five zones: extremely high, high, moderate, low, and extremely low potential for groundwater recharge. As expected, areas along the Greater Zab river show the highest possibility for groundwater recharge. Likewise, rugged eastern hills demonstrate an encouraging capacity for artificial aquifer recharge, whereas the least effective area is represented by built-up land. Based on the generated map, two dams are proposed as promising artificial recharge structures for harvesting runoff water east of Erbil city. Lastly, the resulting map of the potential groundwater recharge zones is verified using static water level data, where the coefficient of determination (R2) achieved a satisfactory result (0.73). These findings provide crucial evidence for implementing a sustainable management plan of surface and groundwater resources. The applied method is eventually valid for regions where appropriate and adequate field data availability is a serious issue.

Developing a Decision-making Model to Enhance Artificial Aquifer Recharge Site Selection Through Floodwater Spreading Based on GIS and ELECTRE I

Developing a Decision-making Model to Enhance Artificial Aquifer Recharge Site Selection Through Floodwater Spreading Based on GIS and ELECTRE I