Potential Groundwater Recharge Research Articles

Application of analytical hierarchy process and integrated fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process for mapping potential groundwater recharge zone using GIS in the arid areas of Ewaso Ng'iro – Lagh Dera Basin, Kenya

The demand for freshwater has continuously increased in the arid areas of Ewaso Ng'iro – Lagh Dera basin, Kenya. This study aimed to and mapped areas of potential groundwater recharge in the basin by integrating factors that influence groundwater recharge using Analytical Hierarchical Process, and Fuzzy-Analytical Hierarchical Process in ArcGIS. The results of this study are presented in form of maps indicating the potential groundwater recharge zones. The zones are categorized as high, medium and low potential groundwater recharge zone, which were validated with the location of the fresh water boreholes. High groundwater recharge potential zones occur in the central part of the study area within the generally flat flood plains consisting of alluvium lithology. In contrast, low potential groundwater recharge zones occur in the southwestern part of the area within upland plains. The study can be helpful in the proper management of the groundwater resource.

Delineation of Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones Using Remote Sensing, GIS, and Ahp Approaches

Delineation of Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones Using Remote Sensing, GIS, and Ahp Approaches

Mapping of Potential Recharge Areas of Fractured Aquifers in the Departments of Yamoussoukro and Toumodi (Central Côte d’Ivoire)

Groundwater is an important natural resource for all human activity. Today, due to climate change and population growth, the demand has increased considerably, thus requiring their evaluation to ensure sustainability. However, one of the important but difficult to estimate parameters due to its variability is the recharge. This work aims to map the potential recharge of aquifers in the departments of Yamoussoukro and Toumodi. Saaty’s AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) multi-criteria analysis technique was used by integrating different thematic layers. First, a reclassification then weighting of these parameters was made according to their influence in the recharge process. Finally, they were integrated into a GIS to produce the map of potential groundwater recharge zones. The results indicate that the potential high recharge areas represent approximately 43.11% of the area of the study area. These areas appear scattered in the sub-prefecture of Yamoussoukro, Kokoumbo Attiegouakro, Toumodi et Kpouèbo.

Assessing ecosystem service outcomes from payments for hydrological services programs in Veracruz, Mexico: Future deforestation threats and spatial targeting

Payments for hydrologic services (PHS) programs focus on protecting upstream forests that provide a range of ecosystem services. The goal of this work is to inform the design of PHS policies by modeling ecosystem services outcomes in watersheds in Veracruz, Mexico. An integrated, spatially explicit model for evaluating the performance of the existing PHS program is developed by combining results of field measurements of ecosystem services associated with forested and converted land covers with a land change model that simulates land cover patterns in response to PHS program coverage and targeting strategies. The results indicate that the current PHS targeting strategy performs slightly better than a proposed benefit targeting strategy based on prioritizing areas with highest groundwater recharge potential. We also find that targeting based on deforestation risk results in unintended consequences because land cover classes with poorer ecosystem service values are selected. The latter results suggest that differentiating between forest cover age classes is important since forests in our study area exhibit substantial differences in ecosystem service indicators and in the land cover transition rates across age classes. Overall, our findings caution against the assumption that implementing detailed spatial benefit targeting strategies will necessarily increase the additionality of ecosystem services in conservation programs.

Identification of Potential Groundwater Recharge Sites in a Semi-arid Region of Pakistan Using Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP)

Groundwater is a precious source of fresh water and a major component of the entire water supply. Both water quality and quantity could be satisfied by evaluating the groundwater potential sites (GWPS). This paper analyzes the ground-water potentials in a semi-arid region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It describes a standard methodology to identify and map GWPS using integrated Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) methods. Eight parameters including elevation, slope, drainage density, lineaments density, soil, geology, land use/land cover and rainfall were integrated to explore areas with groundwater holding capability. GWPS were delineated through subjective weights assigned after coupling various thematic layers using Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). The modelled GWPS were cross-checked with tube wells data. The result indicates that the central part of the study area has good potential for groundwater reserves/exploitation, where the factors i.e. moderate to high drainage density, sedimentary sequence of alluvial plain, low elevation etc. discern the central portion of the study area as a suitable site for groundwater. This study suggests that the applied method proves to be very significant and reliable tool for timely assessment of quality assured evaluation of groundwater resources. This study could be a systematic guide for future investigations for water related explorations, especially in semi-arid environments.

Assessment of Groundwater Recharge Potential Depending on Morphologic Analysis in East of Wasit, Southeastern Iraq

Modern technologies are used for watershed management to cope with drought risks in arid and semi-arid regions. The study aimed to conduct a morphometric analysis and know potential groundwater recharge areas in the eastern region of Wasit Province. Remote sensing and GIS data were used for morphometric analysis. The morphometric analysis results adopted the Digital Elevation Model. The results of the analysis were verified by matching the results with what exists in reality. The area of the first basin was 1482.017, as it is the largest basin from the area, with a percent of 51.228% of the total area of all basins. The percentage of first-degree flows reached 83.37% in the first basin, 74.14% percent in the second basin, 75.51% in the third basin, and 75.75% in the fourth basin from all streams in each basin. The bifurcation rate (3.135-4.233), Stream frequency range values (0.543-0.332), drainage texture coarse, low drainage density that ranged between 0.986-1.14 km/km2 elongation ratio ranging from 0.348-0.624 form factor (0.095-0.316). The basins' circularity (0.105-0.238) relief value (951-112) m infiltration number value (0.369-0.535). All basins have a longitudinal shape and lead to the formation of floods and rapid currents, which exposes the region to rapid seasonal floods and the creation of flash floods that cause soil erosion and analyses the drainage intensity results. It was low, and this is an indication that the ground has high permeability. The flow frequency results indicate that the area is semi-arid and exposed to small amounts of rain and coarse drainage texture by comparing the result parameters from morphometric analysis results for each basin. The potential recharge areas of groundwater in the study area can be known, n as the analysis results showed that recharge potential occurs in all basins. The highest groundwater recharge is possible in the third basin and the lowest in the first basin. Morphometric analysis was performed by ARC-GIS(Arc-map10.4).

Identification of the Dominant Factors in Groundwater Recharge Process, Using Multivariate Statistical Approaches in a Semi-Arid Region

Identifying contributing factors of potential recharge zones is essential for sustainable groundwater resources management in arid regions. In this study, a data matrix with 66 observations of climatic, hydrogeological, morphological, and land use variables was analyzed. The dominant factors in groundwater recharge process and potential recharge zones were evaluated using K-means clustering, principal component analysis (PCA), and geostatistical analysis. The study highlights the importance of multivariate methods coupled with geospatial analysis to identify the main factors contributing to recharge processes and delineate potential groundwater recharge areas. Potential recharge zones were defined into cluster 1 and cluster 3; these were classified as low potential for recharge. Cluster 2 was classified with high potential for groundwater recharge. Cluster 1 is located on a flat land surface with nearby faults and it is mostly composed of ignimbrites and volcanic rocks of low hydraulic conductivity (K). Cluster 2 is located on a flat lowland agricultural area, and it is mainly composed of alluvium that contributes to a higher hydraulic conductivity. Cluster 3 is located on steep slopes with nearby faults and is formed of rhyolite and ignimbrite with interbedded layers of volcanic rocks of low hydraulic conductivity. PCA disclosed that groundwater recharge processes are controlled by geology, K, temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), humidity, and land use. Infiltration processes are restricted by low hydraulic conductivity, as well as ignimbrites and volcanic rocks of low porosity. This study demonstrates that given the climatic and geological conditions found in the Sierra de San Miguelito Volcanic Complex (SSMVC), this region is not working optimally as a water recharge zone towards the deep aquifer of the San Luis Potosí Valley (SLPV). This methodology will be useful for water resource managers to develop strategies to identify and define priority recharge areas with greater certainty.

Estimation of potential recharge through direct seeded and transplanted rice fields in semi-arid regions of Punjab using HYDRUS-1D

The present study utilizes soil water balance and HYDRUS-1D for estimating and predicting potential recharge in groundwater declining region of central Punjab, respectively. A field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Two treatments viz direct-seeded (DSR) and transplanted rice (TPR) with three replications, were sown/transplanted during kharif season of 2019. The amount of water applied through rainfall/irrigation was recorded and bottom flux was measured using frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) and then predicted using HYDRUS-1D in order to assess potential groundwater recharge which was further compared with deep percolation determined using soil water balance. The performance of the HYDRUS-1D was evaluated using RMSE, NSE, and R2 and found to be performing well. The paired t-test (t = 1.28 and t = 1.30 for TPR and DSR, respectively) was found to be non-significant at P = 0.05 which showed the correspondence between predicted and estimated parameters. The percentage change between estimated and predicted potential groundwater recharge was found to be 0.7% and 2.32% in TPR and DSR, respectively. The study revealed that there was 9% water saving and 14.6% more deep percolation (cumulative bottom flux) in DSR as compared to TPR that may potentially contribute to groundwater recharge.

Identification of the Groundwater Potential Recharge Zones Using MCDM Models: Full Consistency Method (FUCOM), Best Worst Method (BWM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Identification of the Groundwater Potential Recharge Zones Using MCDM Models: Full Consistency Method (FUCOM), Best Worst Method (BWM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Mapping Potential Zones for Groundwater Recharge Using a GIS Technique in the Lower Khwae Hanuman Sub-Basin Area, Prachin Buri Province, Thailand

The lower Khwae Hanuman sub-basin in Thailand suffers from water shortage during each dry season. As such, groundwater resources are an additional freshwater source in this region, in particular for cultivating activities. Thus, an understanding of the volume of groundwater recharge into the saturated zone is required. The objective of the study is to assess the groundwater recharge potential (GRP) using the weighted overlay analysis method by geographic information system (GIS) and finally checking the reliability of GRP map using observed specific capacity carried out by the Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR). The geological and hydrogeological features that affect groundwater potential are the lithology, land use, lineaments, drainage, slope, and soil. The weighting and rating of these six influencing factors were determined by assessing the interrelationship of the main and minor influences of each factor based on several literature reviews, followed by a weighted overlay analysis with GIS, in association with groundwater recharge. The GRP can be classified in descending order: high, moderate, low, and very low, where about 33.9 km2 (2.26% of the total area of 1,500 km2) had high recharge potentiality, located at the center of the area. Only 12.8% of the total precipitation (271.75 million m3/y or approximately 181.2 mm) infiltrated the groundwater aquifer, while the rest was lost by either surface runoff or evapotranspiration. Based on GRP sensitivity analysis index, lithology was the most efficient influencing factor in GRP mapping. Most groundwater wells (>96% or 369 wells) were classified into the classes of low and moderated, which agree to the GRP zones. The results of calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were 86.0 percent, with relatively good predictive accuracy. The stable baseflow analysis would be used to confirm the amount of GRP by weighting overlay technique. Therefore, the GRP method can be applied in other areas, particular in similar hydrogeological characteristics. The first-hand recharge potential map and groundwater recharge information in this area can be used to establish an effective groundwater exploration program for agricultural activities; it is also used to appropriate sustainable yields from each groundwater basin to provide groundwater over the long-term, without negatively impacting the environment and without affecting the groundwater balance as it has recharge in the rainy seasons, which can use groundwater sustainably. It is in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in goal number six of the UN.

Identification of Groundwater Potential Recharge Zones in Flinders Ranges, South Australia Using Remote Sensing, GIS, and MIF Techniques

In Australia, water resource management is a major environmental, biological, and socio-economic issue, and will be an essential component of future development. The Hawker Area of the central Flinders Ranges, South Australia suffers from a lack of reliable data to help with water resource management and decision making. The present study aimed to delineate and assess groundwater recharge potential (GWRP) zones using an integration between the remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), and multi-influencing factors (MIF) approaches in the Hawker Area of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Many thematic layers such as lithology, drainage density, slope, and lineament density were established in a GIS environment for the purpose of identifying groundwater recharge potential zones. A knowledge base ranking from 1 to 5 was assigned to each individual thematic layer and its categories, depending on each layer’s importance to groundwater recharge potential zones. All of the thematic layers were integrated to create a combined groundwater potential map of the study area using weighting analysis in ArcGIS software. The groundwater potential zones were categorized into three classes, good, moderate, and low. The resulting zones were verified using available water data and showed a relative consistency with the interpretations. The findings of this study indicated that the most effective groundwater potential recharge zones are located where the lineament density is high, the drainage density is low, and the slope is gentle. The least effective areas for groundwater recharge are underlain by shale and siltstone. The results indicated that there were interrelationships between the groundwater recharge potential factors and the general hydrology characteristics scores of the catchment. MIF analysis using GIS mapping techniques proved to be a very useful tool in the evaluation of hydrogeological systems and could enable decision makers to evaluate, better manage, and protect a hydrogeological system using a single platform.

Identification of potential groundwater recharge zones at Makutupora basin, Dodoma Tanzania

ABSTRACT This paper presents results of identifying potential groundwater recharge zones at the Makutupora basin using GIS and remote sensing techniques. The study was based on integration of seven factors known to contribute towards groundwater existence, namely lineaments and drainage density, elevation, slope, lithology, rainfall, and land use/land cover. For each factor, a thematic layer was prepared, reclassified into five classes, and assigned weight based on its contribution to groundwater existence. All weighted thematic layers were overlaid by the weighted sum analysis method using spatial analyst tool in ArcGIS 10.4® to produce spatial distribution of potential groundwater recharge zones. The potential groundwater recharge zones were classified into five classes, ranging from not suitable to more suitable. This study reveals coverage of potential groundwater recharge as: 2% very good zone, 11% good, 40% average, 45.5% poor, and 1.6% very poor . The Southwest, Northeast, and some small sections of the North of the basin are predominantly between good and very good groundwater recharge potential; while the rest of the basin ranges from poor to very poor. These results have provided some useful information to enable exploration of groundwater wells and foster sustainable planning and use of groundwater resources in this area.

Quantify karstic aquifer potential recharge zones by integrated hydrogeology and GIS approaches, Northern Iran

One of the main challenges facing the sustainable development of the Kalaleh region is the need for better management of this limited karstic fresh water resources. Kalaleh mountainous region in the north of Iran is drained by several karstic springs such as Zaw, Aghsoo and Yal-cheshme, having discharge rate of 20 to 2500 lit/s. The springs are mainly discharged from Lar, Tirgan, Mozduran karstic formations. In this research, the potential recharge mapping and catchment area of the major karstic springs have been investigated based on the groundwater balance and a GIS approach considering geological factors. In another part of the study, the determined primary catchment area by hydrogeological budget method was reconfirmed with geological method and the results were acceptable. Eight potential recharge contributing factors were evaluated using the GIS including drainage and slope, karstic features, lithology, land cover, precipitation and lineaments. The weights and the score of the factors were assigned based on aerial photos, geological maps, land use database and field verification. The different prepared layers were overlaid in GIS environment, and finally, the mean annual recharge rate of the karstic springs was determined which are in the range of 39-44% of the precipitation. Understanding the groundwater potential recharge zone of the Kalaleh watershed is important for management, proper utilization and future planning of water resources for sustainable management. The Lar formation has higher potential for karst development and infiltration than others. The effective karstic formations in recharging process in order of significance are Lar, Mozduran and Tirgan.

Integrated Hydrological Analysis of Little Akaki Watershed Using SWAT-MODFLOW, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, groundwater is the main source of freshwater to support human consumption and socio-economic development. Little Akaki watershed is located in Upper Awash basin, known for its high annual rainfall and considered as the potential groundwater recharge zone. On the contrary, urbanization and industrial expansion are increasing at an alarming rate in the area. This became a concern threatening the groundwater resources’ sustainability. To address these challenges, integrated analysis of groundwater recharge and groundwater numerical simulations were made. For groundwater recharge estimation, SWAT model was used. The result indicated that recharge in the watershed mostly occurs from July to October with maximum values in August. On average, the estimated annual catchment recharge was 179 mm. For the numerical simulation and prediction of the groundwater flow system, MODFLOW 2005 was used. The model simulations indicated that the groundwater head converges towards the main river and, finally, to the outlet of the watershed. The study indicated areas of interactions between the river and groundwater. The scenario examination result reveals increasing the present pumping rate by over fifty percent (by 50%, 100%, and 200%) will surely cause visible groundwater head decline near the outlet of the watershed, and substantial river baseflow reduction. The recharge reduction scenario also indicates the huge risk of groundwater sustainability in the area.

Using Analytical Hierarchy Process Integrated With Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing (AHP/GIS/RS) For Mapping Groundwater Potentiality in West El-Minia Area, Upper Egypt

Water resources management is considered a major socio-economic issue and a central component for future development; this implies an increasing demand for exploration of groundwater of high potentiality to cope with the excessive needs. In this work, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) which is a widely used Multi- Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) has been used with Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing for classifying and mapping zones that intrinsically control and reflect groundwater potentiality in the western area of El Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt. Six parameters of high attributes to groundwater recharge potentiality (Geology, Geomorphology, Slope, Lineaments Density, Drainage Density, and land use/land cover) have been selected. Assigned weights based on their relative importance to groundwater recharge, the weights were compared in a pair-wise matrix, the Eigen values were determined and the consistency ratio was calculated to validate the assigned weights; the ranges of these parameters are classed and rated. Overlay analysis was done to integrate the thematic layers of the parameters in Arc GIS domain for the development of a groundwater recharge potential map which has been verified using stable isotopic content (δ18O and δD) of 67 groundwater samples collected from the study area. Three groundwater potentiality zones; (high, intermediate and low) have been delineated in a recharge potentiality map. The demarcated zones numerically integrate the geological hydrogeological and anthropogenic impacts on groundwater recharge and introduce a base for sustainable development of groundwater in the study area

Data- and model-driven determination of flow pathways in the Piako catchment, New Zealand

Quantifying flow pathways within a larger catchment can help improve diffuse pollution management strategies across subcatchments. But, spatial quantification of flow pathway contributions to catchment stream flow is very limited, since it is challenging to physically separate water from different paths and very expensive to measure, especially for larger areas. To overcome this problem, a novel, combined data and modelling approach was employed to partition stream flow in the Piako catchment, New Zealand, which is a predominantly agricultural catchment with medium to high groundwater recharge potential. The approach comprised a digital filtering technique to separate baseflow from total stream flow, machine learning to predict a baseflow index (BFI) for all streams with Strahler 1st order and higher, and hydrological modelling to partition the flow into five flow components: surface runoff, interflow, tile drainage, shallow groundwater, and deep groundwater. The baseflow index scores corroborated the spatial distributions of the flow pathways modelled in 1st order catchments. Average depth to groundwater data matched well with BFI and Hydrological Predictions for the Environment (HYPE) modeled flow pathway partitioning results, with deeper water tables in areas of the catchment predicted to have greater baseflow or shallow and deep groundwater contributions to stream flow. Since direct quantification of flow pathways at catchment-scale is scarce, it is recommended to use soft data and expert knowledge to inform model parameterization and to constrain the model results. The approach developed here is applicable as a screening method in ungauged catchments.

Seasonality in Intermittent Streamflow Losses Beneath a Semiarid Mediterranean Wadi

AbstractStreamflow losses beneath ephemeral and intermittent streams are potentially major contributors to groundwater recharge. Compared to ephemeral streams, intermittent streams often have more than one season of streamflow and often experience shorter zero‐flow periods during the dry seasons and typically longer wet season of steady streamflow. Intermittent streams losses are lacking significant investigation on their variability over wet and dry season, and on the influence on potential groundwater recharge of flooding streamflow compared with more gradual wet seasonal baseflow. To address these issues, both streambed‐sediment water content and temperature were continuously logged over a year for an intermittent stream (wadi) under semi‐arid conditions in Central Morocco. Water content measurements uniquely distinguished between downward percolation and upward advance of the wetting front due to the rise of the water table, whereas temperature modeling was used to estimate vertical fluxes of percolated water. For the year of data, more than 90% of the estimated potential recharge occurred during winter and spring, when the alluvium typically has a higher water moisture, with most recharge generated during flooding conditions. Winter and spring baseflow generally generated low infiltration, though importantly contributes to wetting the sediment for rapid, deep percolation during flooding. Alternatively, summer flashfloods over dry sediment resulted in shallower infiltration despite higher peak streamflows. Thus, clear seasonality (seasonal variation) in relations between amounts of streamflow, streamflow loss, and depth of wetting into the streambed were distinguished over the study year. Finally, lateral recharge was detected, leading to additional seasonal water‐table fluctuation beneath the wadi.

Recharge área maps from precipitation isoscapes. Case study: Aburrá Valley, Colombia

The environmental isotopes are a tool for interpreting the hydrological processes related to underground environments. These are used for the validation of hydrogeological models, in terms of recharge, transit and discharge zones, as well as the identification of groundwater interactions with other water bodies and groundwater residence time in the hydrogeological units. The determination of the recharge processes have usually been validated from knowledge about the stable isotopes present in the water molecule (18O and 2H). At the regional level, this evaluation has been addressed through the construction of isoscapes combined with an understanding of the hydrological characteristics present in the study area and knowledge of conceptual hydrogeological models. The objective of this study is to apply a scheme for the analysis of potential groundwater recharge zones, from 18O and 2H spatial variability in precipitation, baseflow and groundwater, using spatial modelling tools. Based on a preliminary work done for the Antioquia department, a strategic area was chosen in which the results are more forceful and have greater implications in groundwater management: the Aburrá Valley-Colombia.

Identification of groundwater potential recharge zones using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis: A case study of semi-arid midlands Manyara fractured aquifer, North-Eastern Tanzania

The extraction of groundwater has recently increased due to water scarcity as a result of human activities including agriculture, industrial and domestic use. This has accelerated the need to spatially identify groundwater potential zones for artificial aquifer recharge and extraction through boreholes drilling. The current study is aimed at identifying groundwater potential recharge zones (GPRZ) of semi-arid midlands Manyara fractured aquifer using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The study area solely depends on groundwater for human survival through deep and shallow boreholes water extraction. Eight influencing factors including aquifer lithology, slopes, land use/land cover (LULC), soil types, drainage density, geological lineament density, flow accumulation, and topographic wetness index (TWI) were determined and reclassified on a scale of 1–5 in ArcGIS 10.6 environments. These factors were weighted with the help of AHP and integrated with ArcGIS pro based on the weighted linear combination (WLC) method. The results were scaled into five recharge potential classes; very high, high, moderate, low, and very low recharge potential zones. The results indicates that about 1607 km2 (14.7%) of the study area is under very high potential recharge zones, 3982 km2 (36.43%) falls under high recharge zones, 3120 km2 (28.55%) moderate, 1658 km2 (15.17%) low and 562 km2 (5.14%) under very low recharge zone. To assess the accuracy of the result a total of 66 boreholes collected from the field were used and the Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve generated. The area under the curve (AUC) was found to be 78% signifying moderate to higher accuracy of the model. The presented results provide an inventory of information for the land, water, environmental policy maker's authorities, and other stakeholders to enhancing groundwater resource management within semi-arid midlands Manyara basement fractured aquifer of the internal drainage basin North-Eastern Tanzania.

Groundwater potential recharge areas delineation using groundwater potential recharge index (GPRI) within arid areas: Ghomrassen, south Tunisia

The Ghomrassen region is located in southern Tunisia, which is an arid area where the annual rainfall does not exceed 150 mm. This region suffers from water table drawdown and scarcity of surface water. Groundwater is of strategic importance to meet the population and economic needs. Groundwater recharge estimation and fundamental controlling factors assessment were utmost importance solutions for sustainable groundwater management and groundwater protect. This study aims to assess the main factors controlling groundwater recharge and delineate potential recharge area of Ghomrassen aquifer. To achieve this objective, a groundwater potential recharge index (GPRI) was computed using five parameters such as soil lithology, land use/cover, lineament density, slope, and drainage density. For each parameter a score and weight were assigned and thematic maps were developed. The results indicate that about 35% of the study area is designated as excellent potential recharge, whereas 18% of study shows a moderate recharge and lower potential recharge covers 47% of study area. A potential groundwater recharge of Ghomrassen aquifer was estimated is about 5.4 Mm3.y−1. The results show that the most favorable areas for recharging are the upstream part formed by fractured and fissured rocks and the central part of the Ghomrassen basin formed by recent alluvium. The presented GPRI methodology can be helpful for the planning of various water projects locations of artificial recharge structures and wells establishment.