Recharge Sites Research Articles

The compromise programming method to choose artificial recharge sites in Mornag aquifer (Tunisia)

The compromise programming method to choose artificial recharge sites in Mornag aquifer (Tunisia)

Assessment and feasibility of the potential artificial groundwater recharge in semi-arid crystalline rocks context, Biteira district, Sudan

In Sudan, up to date, artificial recharge with surface water has been rarely investigated in papers. This paper proposed a method to identify and evaluate a potential site for artificial recharge of groundwater in the Biteira district. The targeted area lies in the southern part of Sudan and is underlain by basement rocks. The population's growth, alongside climate change which caused desertification, has augmented water resources' stress over recent years. Moreover, an alternative water resource of groundwater is essential due to limited aquifers. The research integrates the geology, geomorphology, hydrometeorology, and soil texture of the area coupled with infiltration tests data to overcome this problem. In addition, an analysis of the Landsat image to obtain lineaments and geological structures has been done. The results show the average infiltration rate is 2.35 m3/m2, and groundwater flow is estimated to be WWN direction. The study area is suitable for groundwater recharge in case of the construction of a check dam as infrastructure that can pave, favour promoting the artificial recharge. The surface storage capacity achieved at the site for recharge purposes is 20.73 × 106 m3.

Methodology for Identification of Potential Sites for Artificial Groundwater Recharge in Punjab Province of Pakistan

Groundwater is a precious gift of nature and is being used for drinking, agricultural, industrial, livestock. In Punjab province of Pakistan groundwater is contributing about fifty percent towards irrigation water requirements where a large aquifer underlying the Indus River Basin (IRB) is being depleted rapidly. In the present research a methodology/criterion has been developed and applied for identification of the suitable sites for recharging the aquifer artificially in the Punjab province in Pakistan. Major activities carried out include the installation of exploratory boreholes, collection and analysis of soil and water samples, determination of aquifer parameter (hydraulic conductivity) in laboratory. Other field observations include observation of groundwater levels, land availability, water availability, and physiographic features. On the basis of field surveys and laboratory investigations, criteria for identification of potential sites for artificial recharge to augment the groundwater reservoir has been developed. Keeping in view the parameters adopted in the criteria, thirteen potential sites in the critical areas have been identified for artificial recharge to replenish the depleting groundwater levels. This research provides guidelines for the decision-makers for future investment for sustainable groundwater management.

Cover Image, Volume 21, Issue 3

Vadose Zone JournalVolume 21, Issue 3 COVER IMAGEFree Access Cover Image, Volume 21, Issue 3 First published: 20 May 2022 https://doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.20207AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract On the cover: Model of the fraction of coarse-dominated material at a site in the Tulare Irrigation District. The preferential flow path depicted by the dashed white line was manually selected using the spatial distribution of units with a high fraction of coarse-dominated material. See Pepin et al., “Managed aquifer recharge site assessment with electromagnetic imaging: Identification of recharge flow paths,” https://doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.20192. Volume21, Issue3May/June 2022 RelatedInformation

Exploring Predictive Uncertainty at a Double‐Source Managed Aquifer Recharge Site via Stochastic Modeling

AbstractIn Menashe Streams managed aquifer recharge (MAR) site (Israel) desalinated seawater (DSW) is recharged since 2015, alongside ephemeral stream flows. This study quantifies the uncertainty of predictions of the mixing of these two water sources in the aquifer. Mixing estimations are based on the significant difference in the content of stable water isotopes between the water sources. Uncertainties driven from aquifer heterogeneity and climate variability are compared. We use realistic flow and isotope‐transport models in a multiple‐realization stochastic approach considering space and time for the two drivers of uncertainty. Predictive uncertainty is evaluated via comparison of the temporal coefficient of variation of four realization ensembles. Results show that the impact of subsurface structure uncertainty on the predictions is small, compared to the uncertainty resulting from variability related to future hydrometeorological conditions. A generalized conclusion from this result is the difficulty to make long‐term predictions of the mixing ratios, regardless of the level of certainty in the subsurface structure interpretation, when one source of recharge water has significant annual fluctuations. Implication on prediction of magnesium concentration is demonstrated as an example for prediction uncertainty of concentration of a solute of interest in one of the MAR sources. Furthermore, we show that considering a single source MAR site, uncertainty in mixing of the MAR water and native groundwater in wells upgradient of the recharge location is higher than prediction uncertainty in wells located downgradient. Insights are also drawn regarding the change in uncertainty with distance from the recharge pond of the DSW.

Sub-Bottom Profiler and Side Scan Sonar investigations, with the assistance of hydrochemical and isotopic analysis of Sawa Lake, Al-Muthana Governorate, Southern Iraq

A marine geophysical survey are including Sub Bottom Profilers and Side Scan Sonar integrating with under-water imagery, as well as hydrochemical and isotopic investigations have been carried out for Sawa Lake, one of the unique, shallow and closed water body in Iraq. The results showed that the depth of the Lake is shallow, ranged between 1 m in areas near the edges of the Lake and 2 m in the Lake center. The Recharge site has been detected exactly (this is a first recording (Nov. 2012)), as a hole. It has a longitudinal an axis of 50 m with NW-SE tren, which resembles the trending of the longitudinal axis of the Lake and Abu-Jir fault trending. The maximum width of this hole ranging from 23.0-29.5 m. The hole depth about 20 m, but may be greater then, because the emergence of a high proportion of noise in the geophysical sections. The Lake bottom is homogeneity and does not has any diacritical features. Also, the results showed discontinuous layers on either side of the hole due to the existance a number of caves under the bottom of the Lake extends into several meters with different dimensions and forms. Hydrochemical analysis of the water samples collected from different depths inside the hole by scientific diving with specefic equibments and the result showed that the water is NaCl type, with domination of Mg and Cl over Ca and SO4. The Stiff diagram, detected that very high TDS arising mainly from sodium and chloride, it is mostly typical marine water. Values of δ18O and δ2H in water samples of Sawa Lake, when plotted along the global meteoric water line shows that the three collected water samples from the lake, which have a similar isotopic composition, indicating that all of them are receiving water from the same flow zones, with diffuse recharge type. Also, the isotopic parameter showed that the Sawa lake water suffering from strong evaporation.

Investigation of potential sites for ground water recharge in urban areas (Faisalabad)

The increasing world population led to extensive agriculture and expansion of industries, thereby, putting greater demand on water. In the last few decades, an increasing awareness has thus been shown on the importance of occurrence and distribution of water on the earth. A great importance is now being given to hydrology all over the world in the development and management of water resources. The life on Earth is directly related to temperature, air and water. Salt water covers about 97% of the total water. Only 1% is available to living organisms. The quality of this 1% is continually being degraded. Some of it is contaminated and cannot support life. The scarcity of water has become an established factor now and the intensity of problem is increasing day by day. Human use of natural water particular of fresh water resources have increased steadily over the centuries. Ground water is used as main source of drinking water and about 30% of world’s fresh water is stored as ground water. By realizing the importance of the problem, the issue of decreasing levels in the ground water has been addressed globally. Various countries are adopting different strategies and plan to cope with the alarming situation. Artificial recharge of ground water has become a common practice around the globe during the last few decades. The project and study primarily focuses on the artificial recharge method of ground water. The study is based on different techniques and their application in the Faisalabad region of Pakistan. Through these studies and suggestions, we can improve the situation and decreasing levels of ground water. The recharged aquifers then can be used to provide water for purposes like drinking etc. Further the conclusions are drawn related to existing situation and recommendations are made for the proper management and preservation of groundwater.

Managed aquifer recharge site assessment with electromagnetic imaging: Identification of recharge flow paths

AbstractSurface spreading recharge, the intentional flooding of the ground surface to replenish a groundwater system, is one approach used to mitigate groundwater overdraft in California's Central Valley (CV). Choosing appropriate sites for surface spreading recharge, in regard to the sites’ ability to convey water from the ground surface to the desired recharge depth, can be challenging because of limited knowledge of the properties of the subsurface. In this study, we present an approach for using a towed time‐domain electromagnetic (tTEM) imaging method to develop three‐dimensional (3D) models of sediment type, map potential flow paths through the subsurface, and evaluate sites for surface spreading. We began with tTEM data from seven sites in the CV along with an existing resistivity‐to‐sediment type transform. We leveraged geostatistical methods to generate multiple 3D models of binary (flow and no‐flow) sediment type from the tTEM data. We then developed two metrics to assess the quality of sites for recharge: (a) the depth to the shallowest no‐flow unit beneath each point at the surface and (b) preferential flow paths lengths measured by finding the shortest distance through connected flow units between surface points and the desired depth. We explored how these metrics can be used to identify optimal areas within a site, then developed a way to compare and assess the relative suitability of each site using the decay in the number of vertical flow paths as a function of depth. Our methods can be used to rapidly identify potential sites for surface spreading recharge.

Delineating potential sites for artificial groundwater recharge using a mathematical approach to remote sensing and GIS techniques

Abstract The management of available groundwater resources is vital in arid and semi-arid regions. Artificial recharging should be integrated with groundwater resources to maintain long-term water sustainability. This study applied the cost-effective and time-saving techniques of remote sensing and GIS to delineate the groundwater recharge potential in the Al-Sarhan Basin, located in arid and semiarid regions of Jordan, by following the weighted linear combination method. The results revealed three distinct groundwater potential recharge zones (low, moderate, and high potential zones). High to moderate groundwater recharge potential zones occupied 75% of the Al-Sarhan area with considerable artificial recharge capacity because of the suitable geology, soil texture, drainage density, and flat terrain conditions. The maps produced also depicted that 25% of the Al-Sarhan area possesses low groundwater recharging potential. The model further revealed that 93% of the wells in the study area were located in potential groundwater recharge zones.

Geochemistry and Provenance of Springs in a Baja California Sur Mountain Catchment

Fractured rock aquifers cover much of Earth's surface and are important mountain sites for groundwater recharge but are poorly understood. To investigate groundwater systematics of a fractured-dominated aquifer in Baja California Sur, Mexico, we examined the spatial patterns of aquifer recharge and connectivity using the geochemistry of springs. We evaluate a range of geochemical data within the context of two endmember hypotheses describing spatial recharge patterns and fracture connectivity. Hypothesis 1 is that the aquifer system is segmented, and springs are fed by local recharge. Hypothesis 2 is that the aquifer system is well connected, with dominant recharge occurring in the higher elevations. The study site is a small <15 km2 catchment. Thirty-four distinct springs and two wells were identified in the study area, and 24 of these sites were sampled for geochemical analyses along an elevation gradient and canyon transect. These analyses included major ion composition, trace element and strontium isotopes, δ18 O and δ2 H isotopes, radiocarbon, and tritium. δ18 O and δ2 H isotopes suggest that the precipitation feeding the groundwater system has at least two distinct sources. Carbon isotopes showed a change along the canyon transect, suggesting that shorter flowpaths feed springs in the top of the transect, and longer flowpaths discharge near the bottom. Geochemical interpretations support a combination of the two proposed hypotheses. Understanding of the connectivity and provenance of these springs is significant as they are the primary source of water for the communities that inhabit this region and may be impacted by changes in recharge and use.

Identification of Artificial Recharge Sites for Nand Samand Catchment

Abstract: Security of groundwater is widely regarded as a serious impediment to India's economic and social progress. According to the Central Ground Water Board's (CGWB) assessment, India's groundwater tables are plummeting at an alarming rate, with reserves in some regions reaching critical levels. Unregulated groundwater use in southern peninsular India has also resulted in excessive extraction, lowering the 'critical' threshold. With over 30 million groundwater structures in use, India is on the verge of a disaster of over-extraction that will leave 60% of all aquifers in critical condition within the next two decades. To resolve the issue, a variety of renewable groundwater solutions must be implemented. Artificial recharge is a procedure that augments groundwater at a pace that is significantly greater than the rate of replenishment under natural conditions, which may give a solution. The current study is for the Nand Samand catchment in the district of Rajasthan. The investigation of artificial groundwater recharge sites is being conducted using an integrated Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) approach. Thematic maps such as topographic elevation, post-mosoon groundwater level, recharge, slope, transmissivity and soils map are created, and weighted overlay analysis is used to identify areas suitable for artificial recharge. Keywords: Nand Samand catchment, artificial recharge zone, thematic map, remote sensing, GIS

Applications of geospatial analysis and analytical hierarchy process to identify the groundwater recharge potential zones and suitable recharge structures in the Ajani-Jhiri watershed of north Maharashtra, India

The present study undertakes the integration of hydrogeological, geospatial and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques to identify groundwater recharge potential zones and suitable recharge structures in parts of the Ajani-Jhiri watershed of the Tapi river basin, north Maharashtra, India. Hydrogeological thematic layers include drainage density, lineament density, geology, geomorphology, land use/landcover, soil and slope, which are the demarcating factors in identification of potential recharge sites of the watershed. An analytical hierarchy process model based on MCDA methodologies was adapted to determine the overall weightage distribution for individual layers for weighted overlay to be executed in GIS environment. Groundwater recharges potential zones are divided into high, moderate, and low classes. Results showed that only 272.72 km2 (38.02%) area has high recharge potential, while 316.94 km2 (44.07%) has moderate groundwater recharge potential. The low groundwater potential recharge zone (129.35 km2; 17.98%) is located in the southern part of the watershed, which is mountainous terrain. Locations of new recharge structures, including six stream bunds, five check dams and two percolation tanks are recommended to meet the regional domestic and agricultural needs. The water bodies in the region are partially silted with loose materials, hence three desiltation tanks proposed.

Investigating groundwater and surface water interactions using stable isotopes and hydrochemistry in the Notwane River Catchment, South East Botswana.

Study regionThe ephemeral Notwane River Catchment (NRC) is situated in semi-arid Southeast (SE) Botswana. It is part of the Ramotswa Transboundary Dolomitic Aquifer (RTBDA) in the Limpopo basin, shared by Botswana and South Africa. Study focusStable isotopic composition of deuterium (2H) and oxygen (18O) of the water molecule and water chemistry of groundwater and surface water (GW and SW) including rainfall samples were used to assess GW-SW interactions in the NRC. In addition, the seasonal effects on GW-SW interactions were also evaluated. As such, sample collection excursions were timed to coincide with the wet- and dry seasons, respectively. New hydrological insights for the regionGW and SW were found to have similar chemical characteristics. The major ions in both water types were Ca2+ and HCO-3 in both the dry- and wet season. There was a clear inverse relationship between ground relief and/or elevation and the concentration of chloride ions (mg/L) and electrical conductivity (µS/cm). That is, higher concentrations of chlorine were measured downstream compared to upstream and vice versa. The same trend was manifested for EC levels. Overall, the data indicated the existence of some highly active groundwater recharge sites along the Notwane River, that may be responsible for the aquifer recharge during above-normal rainfall events. In addition, the data revealed albeit inconclusively that GW-SW interactions in the NRC are likely to be influenced by an interplay of several factors such as: (a) the difference in water levels between the river and the adjacent groundwater table (b) the hydrogeology and location of the river channel because geologic formations such as faults and karsts play a critical role in GW-SW interactions. Karsts are known to support groundwater recharge which is different from the nearby semi-arid Kalahari region where recharge is driven by soil profile.

Evolution of fluid flow and carbonate recrystallization rates in deep-sea sediments of the Equatorial Pacific

Fluid flow and carbonate recrystallization rates of deep-sea sediments from eight locations in the Equatorial Eastern Pacific were determined by using δ44/40Ca values of pore water and corresponding sediments. The studied drill sites of IODP Exp. 320/321 are located along a transect of decreasing crustal age and reveal different characteristic pore water depth profiles. The younger sites show an overall isotopic equilibration with the sediment in the upper part of the sedimentary column. In the lower part, the δ44/40Ca of the pore water increases back to seawater-like values at the sediment/basalt interface, forming a bulge-shaped pore water profile. The magnitude of the δ44/40Ca pore water bulge decreases with increasing age of the oceanic crust and sediment cover, resulting in seawater-like δ44/40Ca values throughout the sedimentary column in the oldest Sites U1331 and U1332. These findings indicate a seawater-like fluid input from the underlying crust into the sediment. Thus, after sedimentation, carbonate recrystallization processes start to enrich the pore water in 40Ca, and after a time of carbonate recrystallization and cooling of oceanic crust, a flow of seawater-like fluid starts to move upwards through the sedimentary column, enriching the pore water with 44Ca. We established a carbonate recrystallization and fluid flow model to quantify these processes. Our determined carbonate recrystallization rates between 0.000013e(−t/15.5) and 0.00038e(−t/100.5) and fluid flow rates in the range of 0.42–19 m*Myr−1 indicate that the fluid flow within the investigated sites of IODP Exp. 320/321 depends on the sedimentary composition and location of the specific site, especially the proximity to a recharge or discharge site of a hydrothermal convection cell.

Evaluating the groundwater potential of Wadi Al-Jizi, Sultanate of Oman, by integrating remote sensing and GIS techniques

Groundwater resources are highly stressed due to their overuse, especially in the arid region. This study is aimed at discovering potential groundwater resource zones using currently available data and state-of-the-art methods. This will lead to effective management of scarcely available and rapidly depleting groundwater resources in the Wadi Al-Jizi catchment, located in the Al-Batinah region. Data on terrain characteristics, geology, and geomorphology was integrated using remote sensing techniques and geographical information system (GIS). The result from this exercise was used for the identification of areas with a high potential for groundwater availability. These areas were classified into five types, namely, excellent, good, medium, low, and very low representing 11%, 59.5%, 26%, and 3.5% of the total area, respectively. The present study shows that the integration of all the weighted parameters shows promising results in the zonation of groundwater. This study shall be useful to the decision-makers in highlighting potential drilling as well as recharge sites in the area.

Investigation of groundwater recharge prospect and hydrological response of groundwater augmentation measures in Upper Kosi watershed, Kumaun Himalaya, India

The discharge pattern of springs in the Himalayan region is highly variable due to diverse lithology, complex hydro-geological formations and dynamic tectonic activities. Therefore, delineation of groundwater recharge potential zones is extremely essential for sustainability of groundwater resources in Himalayan region. Apart from delineating potential zone, it becomes more important to evaluate the identified recharge zones for their validity. The current study therefore, was aimed to delineate recharge potential zones that suggested the suitable sites where potential of recharging groundwater is more. Second objective of the study included evaluation of identified recharge sites/zone through implementation of groundwater recharge structures followed by monitoring discharge in Upper Kosi watershed in Uttarakhand, Kumaun Himalaya, India. Standard technique was established in order to detect potential recharge sites through allocating weightage as well as score to various controlling through multi-criteria decision-making approach in GIS domain. The results indicated that only 19.6% area in the Upper Kosi basin lied in good to excellent recharge potential. However, 31.7% and 15.2% area lied in fair and moderate recharge potential which was also considered as suitable for execution of artificial recharge structures. Moreover, a slow recession in discharge was observed from the treated micro-watershed as compared to the untreated one. This validates the legitimacy of the recharge zone(s) identified using the contended approach.

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.

Hybrid Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Analysis for Selecting Discrete Preferable Groundwater Recharge Sites

This study proposes a hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria methodology for the selection of the most preferable site for applying managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems by utilizing floodwaters. The use of MAR can increase water resources for later water utilization in case of drought. In this multi-criteria problem, seven recharge sites are under consideration, based on nine criteria, aiming to make a final list of their relative ranking. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) based on the logarithmic fuzzy preference programming (LFFP) method is used to determine the weights of criteria. LFFP is an optimization-based method that produces a priority vector from a fuzzy pairwise comparison matrix. Furthermore, fuzzy inference systems (FIS) based on the Mamdani approach are used to estimate the rating of each alternative with respect to the criterion examined, and then the final evaluation of the alternatives is obtained. A FIS is a fuzzy if–then rule-based system where the experts’ qualitative knowledge is translated into numerical reasoning for each individual criterion. The proposed methodology is applied in the aquifer system of the agricultural plain located to the southeast of the city of Xanthi in the Prefecture of Xanthi, NE Greece.

An Integrated Application of Remote Sensing, GIS and VES for Artificial Recharging at Watershed from South Solapur Taluka, Solapur District, Maharashtra

Over growing demand of water has led scientific community to plan augmentation of ground water by various methods. The objectives achieved in present study are to arrest run-off and silt flow, to facilitate infiltration of water. The study area considered is a small Micro Watershed from South Solapur District which is Drought prone zone. The study was an attempt to delineate the possible recharge zone for groundwater and also to identify the suitable sites for artificial recharge structures. The remote sensing, geographic information system and electrical resistivity (VES) has played important role in investigation for identifying the probable sites for artificial recharge structures.Subsurface resistivity sounding studies have revealed to know the subsurface lithological distribution and thickness of different layers and this has been correlated with local geological setup to suggest the artificial recharge structures.

Assessment of groundwater drought vulnerability and delineation of sites for artificial recharge – a case study

Drought impacts both surface water and groundwater, which leads to reduced supply. Groundwater drought indicates continuous depletion of groundwater level, storage and discharge. Assessment of groundwater drought conditions is necessary for effective planning of drought management strategies. In this study, the drought vulnerability of Chittur Block in Palakkad, Kerala is assessed by the occurrence of groundwater drought and is mapped using geographic information system (GIS). A strategy for the effective implementation of artificial recharge schemes is proposed to combat future drought conditions. A combination of GIS and weighted parameter approach (WPA) is employed to delineate safe, suitable locations for artificial groundwater recharge. Site specific recharging structures such as check dams, infiltration pits, injection wells and percolation ponds are recommended within the 65% area which was identified as most conducive for artificial recharge.