ARBAMINCH UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF TECHINOLOGY

HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENT

PRESENTATION ON
ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE OF GROUND WATER
Submitted to :- Dr. Guchie Gulie
By: BESHO HOMA
ID: RMSc/120/05
Date :- June/2013
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINITION
3. IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS FOR RECHARGE
4. HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL STUDIES
5. HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDIES
6. GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES
7. SOURCES OF WATER FOR RECHARGE
8. METHODS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
9. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
 ARTIFICIAL GROUND WATER RECHARGE

INTRODUCTION
 Artificial recharge can be defined as augmenting the natural movement
of surface water into ground water formations by some methods of
construction, by spreading of water , or by artificially changing natural
conditions .
 A variety of methods have been developed, Including water spreading ,
recharging through pits and wells and pumping to induce recharging from
surface water bodies.
The choice of particular method is governed by local topographic,
geologic, and soil conditions.
In addition land value ,water quality, or even climate may be an important
factor.
Cont….
 Hence, the amount of percolation varies greatly from region to region and
within the same region from place to place depending upon the amount
and pattern of rainfall (i.e. number and duration of rainy days, rainfall
amount and intensity), characteristics of soils and rocks (i.e. porosity,
cracks and loose joints in rocks etc.), the nature of terrain (i.e. hills,
plateaus, plains, valleys etc.), and other climatic factors like temperature
and humidity. As a result, availability of water from sub-surface storages
varies considerably from place to place.
 In most low rainfall areas the availability of utilizable surface water is so
low that people have to depend largely on ground water for agriculture
and domestic use.
DEFINITION
 The artificial recharge to ground water aims at augmentation of ground water reservoir by
modifying the natural movement of surface water utilizing suitable civil construction techniques.
 Artificial recharge techniques normally address to following issues:-
 To enhance the sustainable yield in areas where over-development has depleted the
aquifer.
 Conservation and storage of excess surface water for future requirements, since
these requirements often changes within a season or a period.
 To improve the quality of existing ground water through dilution.
 To remove bacteriological and other impurities from sewage and waste water so that
water is suitable for re-use.
 The basic purpose of artificial recharge of ground water is to restore supplies from aquifers
depleted due to excessive ground water development.
 In order to improve the ground water situation it is necessary to artificially recharge the
depleted ground water aquifers. The available techniques are easy, cost-effective and sustainable
in the long term. Many of these can be adopted by the individuals and village communities with
locally available materials and manpower.
IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS FOR RECHARGE

The first step in planning a recharge scheme is to demarcate the area of

recharge. Such an area should, as far as possible, be a micro-watershed
(2,000-4,000 ha) or a mini-watershed (40-50 ha).
However, localized schemes can also be taken up for the benefit of a single
hamlet or a village. In either case the demarcation of area should be based
on the following broad criteria:
 Where ground water levels are declining due to over-exploitation
 Where substantial part of the aquifer has already been desaturated
i.e. regeneration of water in wells and hand pumps is slow after some
water has been drawn
 Where availability of water from wells and hand pumps is
inadequate during the lean months
 Where ground water quality is poor and there is no alternative
source of water
 HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL STUDIES

 These studies are undertaken to understand the rainfall pattern and

evaporation losses and thereby to determine the amount of water that
would be available from a given catchment and the size of storages to be
built. The main factors to be considered are:
 Minimum annual rainfall during the previous 10 years
 Number of rainy spells in a rainy season and duration of each spell
 Amount of rainfall in each rainy spell
 Rainfall intensity (maximum) 3 hourly, 6 hourly etc. as may be
relevant for a region.
 As a general guide, the one, which causes significant runoff and local
flooding, should be adopted.
 HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDIES
A detailed hydro geological study of the project area and also the regional picture of
Hydro geological setting is necessary to know precisely the promising locations for
recharge and the type of structures to be built for the purpose. The aspects to be
considered for a recharge scheme are:-
 Detailed information and maps showing
 Hydro geological units demarcated on the basis of their water bearing
capabilities at both shallow and deeper levels
 Ground water contours to determine the form of the water table and hydraulic
connection of ground water with rivers, canals etc.
 Depth to water table (Maximum, Minimum and Mean)
 Amplitude of water level fluctuations
 Piezometric head in deeper aquifers and their variation with time
 Ground water potential of different hydro geological units and the level of
ground water development
 Chemical quality of water in different aquifers
 This information is usually available in district-wise ground water reports
prepared by the Central Ground Water Board and/ or the State Ground Water
Board.
 Information from local open wells
Cont…
• Artificial recharges schemes are site-specific and even the replication of
the proven techniques are to be based on the local hydro geological and
hydrological conditions.
• However, following information from local wells needs to be taken into
consideration in planning such schemes:
• The unsaturated thickness of rock formations occurring beyond 3 meters
below ground level should be considered to assess the requirement of
water to build up the sub-surface storage. The ground water recharge
process should aim at saturating this entire unsaturated zone (also known
as vadose zone)
• The upper 3 m of the unsaturated zone should not be considered for
recharging since it may cause adverse environmental impacts like water
logging, soil salinity etc.
• The post-monsoon depth to water level represents a situation of
minimum thickness of vadose zone available for recharge. This should be
considered vis-à-vis the available surplus runoff in the area
 GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES
• These studies are expensive and time consuming and require high levels of skill
and sophisticated equipment.
• These are, therefore, economically viable for large ground water development
projects and are not suitable for small artificial recharge schemes at local/ village
level.
• The main purpose of applying geophysical methods for the selection of
appropriate site for artificial recharge studies is to assess the unknown sub-
surface hydro geological conditions economically, adequately and
unambiguously.
• Generally the prime task is to compliment the exploratory programmed. Mostly it
is employed to narrow down the target zone, pinpoint the probable site for
artificial recharge structure and its proper design.
• Nevertheless, the application of geophysical methods is to bring out a
comparative picture of the sub-surface litho environment, surface manifestation
of such structures and correlate them with the hydro geological setting.
• Besides defining the sub-surface structure and litho logy, it can identify the
brackish/ fresh ground water interface, contaminated zone (saline) and the area
prone to seawater intrusion.
Cont…
Using certain common geophysical methods, it is possible to model the
 Stratification of aquifer system and spatial variability of hydraulic
conductivity of the characteristic zone, suitable for artificial recharge
 Negative or non-productive zones of low hydraulic conductivity in
unsaturated and saturated zones
 Vertical hydraulic conductivity discontinuities, such as dyke and fault
zone
 Moisture movement and infiltration capacity of the unsaturated zone
 Direction of ground water flow under natural/ artificial recharge
processes
 Salinity ingress, trend and short duration depth salinity changes in the
aquifers due to varied abstraction or recharge
 SOURCES OF WATER FOR RECHARGE

• Before undertaking a recharge scheme, it is important to first assess the

availability of adequate water for recharge.
• Following are the main sources, which need to be identified and assessed for
adequacy:-
 Precipitation (rainfall) over the demarcated area
 Large roof areas from where rainwater can be collected and diverted for
recharge
 Canals from large reservoirs from which water can be made available for
recharge
 Natural streams from which surplus water can be diverted for recharge,
without violating the rights of other users
 Properly treated municipal and industrial waste waters. This water should
be used only after ascertaining its quality
• “In situ” precipitation is available at every location but may or may not be
adequate for the recharge purposes. In such cases water from other sources may
be transmitted to the recharge site. Assessment of the available sources of water
would require consideration of the following factors
 Available quantity of water
 QUALITY OF SOURCE WATER
Chemicals and Salts
• Problems which arise as a result of recharge to ground water are mainly
related to the quality of raw waters that are available for recharge and
which generally require some sort of treatment before being used in
recharge installations.
• They are also related to the changes in the soil structure and the
biological phenomena, which take place when infiltration begins, thereby
causing environmental concerns.
• The chemical and bacteriological analysis of source water and that of
ground water is therefore essential.
Sediment Load
• A major requirement for waters that are to be used in recharge projects is
that they be silt free.
• Silt may be defined as the content of undissolved solid matter, usually
measured in mg/l, which settles in stagnant water or in flowing water
with velocities, which do not exceed 0.1 m/hr.
PREVENTION OF CLOGGING OF SOIL PORES
This is one of the important considerations in planning an artificial recharge
scheme. The usual methods to minimize the clogging are:-
• Periodical removing of the mud-cake and dicing or scraping of the surface
layer
• Installation of a filter on the surface, the permeability of which is lower
than that of the natural strata (the filter must be removed and renewed
periodically)
• Addition of organic matter or chemicals to the uppermost layer
• Cultivation of certain plant-covers, notably certain kinds of grass
• Providing inverted filter consisting of fine sand, coarse sand and gravel at
the bottom of infiltration pits/ trenches are very effective
• Clogging by biological activity depends upon the mineralogical and
organic composition of the water and basin floor and upon the grain-size
and permeability of the floor.
• The only feasible method of treatment developed so far consists in
thoroughly drying the ground under the basin.
 INFILTRATION CAPACITY OF SOIL

• Infiltration capacity of soil is an important factor that governs the rate of

saturation of the vadose zone and thereby the efficacy or otherwise of a
recharge scheme.
Aquifer Suitability
• This depends mainly on storage coefficient, availability of storage space
and permeability.
• Very high permeability results in loss of recharged water due to sub-
surface drainage where as low permeability reduces recharge rate. In
order to have good recharge rate and to retain the recharged water for
sufficient period for its use during lean period, moderate permeability is
needed. Older alluvium, buried channels, alluvial fans, dune sands, glacial
outwash etc. are the favorable places for recharge. In hard rock areas,
fractured, weathered and cavernous rocks are capable of allowing high
intake of water. The basaltic rocks i.e. those formed by lava flows, usually
have large local pockets, which can take recharge water.
 METHODS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE

These can be broadly classified as:

1. Spreading Method
- Spreading within channel
- Spreading stream water through a network of ditches and
furrows
2. Recharge Shafts
- Vertical Shafts
- Lateral Shafts
3. Injection Wells
4. Induced Recharge
1.1 CHANNEL SPREADING
This involves constructing small ‘L’ shaped bunds within a stream channel so that
water moves along a longer path thereby improving natural recharge as shown
in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1.

This method is useful where a small flowing channel flows through relatively wide
valley. However this is not useful where rivers/ streams are prone to flash floods
and the bunds (levees) may be destroyed.
1.2. DITCH AND FURROW METHOD
In areas with irregular topography, shallow, flat-bottomed and closely
spaced ditches or furrows provide maximum water contact area for
recharge water from source stream or canal. This technique requires less
soil preparation than the recharge basins and is less sensitive to silting.
Figure 1.2 shows a typical plan or series of ditches originating from a
supply ditch and trending down the topographic slope towards the
stream.
Generally three patterns of ditch and furrow system are adopted

Figure 1.2
Lateral Ditch Pattern
The water from stream is diverted to the feeder canal/ ditch from which
smaller ditches are made at right angles. The rate of flow of water from
the feeder canal to these ditches is by gate valves. The furrow depth is kept
according to the topography and also with the aim that maximum wetted
surface is available and uniform velocity can be maintained. The excess
water is routed to the main stream through a return canal along with
residual silt.
Dendritic Pattern
The water from stream is diverted from the main canal to a series of small
ditches spread in a dendritic pattern. The bifurcation of ditches continues
until practically all the water is infiltrated in the ground.
Contour Pattern
The ditches are excavated following the ground surface contour of the area.
When the ditch comes closer to the stream a switchback is made and thus
the ditch is made to meander back and forth repeatedly. At a lowest point
downstream, the ditch joins the main stream, thus returning the excess
water to it.
Site Characteristics and Design Guidelines
(i) Although this method is adaptable to irregular terrain, the water contact area
seldom exceeds 10 percent of the total recharge area.
(ii) Ditches should have slope to maintain flow velocity and minimum deposition
of sediments.
(iii) Ditches should be shallow, flat-bottomed, and closely spaced to obtain
maximum water contact area. Width of 0.3 to 1.8 m is typical.
(iv) A collecting ditch to convey the excess water back to the mainstream
channel should be provided.
(V) Ditch and furrow method is usually costly since it requires high level of
supervision and maintenance.
1.3 PONDING OVER AREA
A) PERCOLATION TANKS (PT)/ SPREADING BASIN
a term used in India to describe harvesting of water in storages built in
ephemeral streams where water is detained and infiltrates through the base
to enhance storage in unconfined aquifers and is extracted down-valley for
town watersupply or irrigation.
The percolation tanks have been constructed in basaltic lava flows and
crystalline rocks. The percolation tanks are however also feasible in mountain
fronts occupied by talus screen deposits. Percolation tanks with wells and
shafts are also constructed to recharge deeper aquifers where shallow or
superficial formations are highly impermeable
B) MODIFICATION OF VILLAGE TANKS AS RECHARGE STRUCTURES
The existing village tanks, which are often silted up or damaged, can be modified
to serve as recharge structure. In general no “Cut Off Trench” (COT) and
Waste Weir is provided for village tanks. A village tanks can be converted
into a recharge structure by desilting its bed and providing a COT on the
upstream end of the bund. Several such tanks are available which can be
modified for enhancing ground water recharge.
Figure 1.3. Recharge of Dug Wells through Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting
2. RECHARGE SHAFT
These are the most efficient and cost effective structures to recharge the
aquifer directly. These can be constructed in areas where source of water
is available either for some time or perennially. Following are the site
characteristics and design guidelines:
(i) To be dug manually if the strata is of non-caving nature.
(ii) If the strata are caving, proper permeable lining in the form of open
work, boulder lining should be provided.
(iii) The diameter of shaft should normally be more than 2 m to
accommodate more water and to avoid eddies in the well.
(iv) In the areas where source water is having silt, the shaft should be filled
with boulder, gravel and sand to form an inverted filter. The upper-most
sandy layer has to be removed and cleaned periodically. A filter should
also be provided before the source water enters the shaft.
(v) When water is put into the recharge shaft directly through pipes, air bubbles
are also sucked into the shaft through the pipe, which can choke the aquifer.
The injection pipe should therefore be lowered below the water level.
The main advantages of this technique are as follows:
• It does not require acquisition of large piece of land as in case of percolation
tanks.
• There are practically no losses of water in the form of soil moisture and
evaporation, which normally occur when the source water has to traverse the
vadose zone.
• Disused or even operational dug wells can be converted into recharge shafts,
which does not involve additional investment for recharge structure.
• Technology and design of the recharge shaft is simple and can be applied even
where base flow is available for a limited period.
• The recharge is fast and immediately delivers the benefit. In highly permeable
formations, the recharge shafts are comparable to percolation tanks.
• The recharge shafts can be constructed in two different ways viz. vertical and
lateral. The details of each are given in the following paragraphs.
2.1 VERTICAL RECHARGE SHAFT
The vertical recharge shaft can be provided with or without injection
well at the bottom of the shaft.
Without Injection well
 Ideally suited for deep water levels (up to 15 m bgl).
 Presence of clay is encountered within 15 m.
 Effective in the areas of less vertical natural recharge.
 Copious water available can be effectively recharged.
 Effective with silt water also (using inverted filter consisting of layers
of sand, gravel and boulder).
 Depth and diameter depends upon the depth of aquifer and volume of
water to be recharged.
 The rate of recharge depends on the aquifer material and silt content
in the water.
 The rate of recharge with inverted filter ranges from 7-14 lps for 2-3
m diameter.
Figure 1.4: Vertical Recharge Shaft Without Injection Well
With Injection Well
In this technique an injection well of 100-150 mm diameter is constructed at
the bottom of the shaft piercing through the layers of impermeable horizon
to the potential aquifers to be reached about 3 to l5 m below the water level
(Figure 1.5).
• Ideally suitable for very deep water level (more than 15 m)
• Aquifer is overlain by impervious thick clay beds
• Injection well can be with or without assembly
• The injection well with assembly should have screen in the potential aquifer at
least 3-5 m below the water level
• The injection well without assembly is filled with gravel to provide hydraulic
continuity so that water is directly recharged into the aquifer
• The injection well without assembly is very cost effective
• Depending upon volume of water to be injected, number of injection wells, can
be increased to enhance the recharge rate
• The efficiency is very high and rate of recharge goes even up to 15 lps at
certain places
Figure 1.5 : Vertical Recharge Shaft With Injection Well
2.2 LATERAL RECHARGE SHAFT
• Ideally suited for areas where permeable sandy horizon is within 3 m below
ground level and continues upto the water level – under unconfined
conditions (Figure 1.6)
• Copious water available can be easily recharged due to large storage and
recharge potential
• Silt water can be easily recharged 2 to 3 m wide and 2 to 3 m deep trench is
excavated, length of which depends on the volume of water to be handled
Figure 1.6: Lateral Recharge Shaft
3. INJECTION WELLS
Injection wells are structures similar to a tube well but with the purpose of
augmenting the ground water storage of a confined aquifer by pumping
in treated surface water under pressure (Figure 1.7). The injection wells
are advantageous when land is scarce.
Injection Method
• Water is led directly into the depleted aquifers by providing a conduit
access, such as tube well or shaft or connector wells. Recharge by
injection is the only method for artificial recharge of confined aquifers or
deep-seated aquifers with poorly permeable overburden.
• Injection method is also very effective in case of highly fractured hard
rocks and karstic limestones but very high permeabilities are not suitable,
as they do not allow the water to be retained for long periods for use
during dry season.
• However, it is necessary to ensure purity of the source water as well as its
compatibility with aquifer to prevent frequent clogging of injection
structures, by bacterial growth, chemical precipitation or deposition of
silt.
Hydraulically, the effectiveness of induction of water in injection well is
determined by:
• Pumping rate
• Permeability of aquifer
• Distance from stream
• Natural ground water gradient
• Type of well
• In alluvial areas injection well can be provided for recharging a single
aquifer or multiple aquifers. However, in case of number of permeable
zones separated by impervious rocks, a properly designed injection well
with inlet pipe against each aquifer to be recharged need to be
constructed. Proper operation and maintenance are necessary to project
the recharge well from clogging.
Figure1.7: Injection Method
4. INDUCED RECHARGE
• It is an indirect method of artificial recharge involving pumping from
aquifer, hydraulically connected with surface water, to induce recharge to
the ground water reservoir. it is more a pumpage augmentation rather
than artificial recharge measure (Figure 1.8).
• In hard rock areas the abandoned channels often provide good sites for
induced recharge.
• Check weir in stream channel, at location up stream of the channel
bifurcation, can help in high infiltration from surface reservoir to the
abandoned channel when heavy pumping is carried out in wells located in
the buried channel.
• The greatest advantage of this method is that under favourable
hydrogeological situations the quality of surface water generally improves
due to its path through the aquifer material before it is discharged from
the pumping well.
• In areas where the phreatic aquifer adjacent to the river is of limited
thickness, horizontal wells may be more appropriate than vertical wells.
Collector well with horizontal laterals and infiltration galleries can get
more induced recharge from the stream collector wells.
Figure1.8: Induced Recharge
Site Characteristics and Design Guidelines
• A collection well is a large diameter (4 to 8 m) well from which laterals are
driven/ drilled near the bottom at one or two levels into permeable strata.
The central well is a vertical concrete cassion in pre-cast rings, (wall
thickness 0.45 m) sunk upto the bottom of aquifer horizon.
• The bottom of cassion is sealed by thick concrete plugs. Slotted steel pipes,
9 mm thick, 15 to 50 cm in diameter having open area above 15% and a
tapered leading are driven laterally through portholes at appropriate
places in the cassion.
• The successive slotted pipes are welded and driven using special hydraulic
jacks installed at the bottom of the cassion. The number of laterals is
usually less than 16, thus permitting minimum angle of 22°30”, between
two laterals.
• The maximum length of lateral reported is 132 m and the total length of
laterals from 120 to 900 m depending upon requirement of yield.
• The laterals are developed by flushing and if entrance velocity of water is
kept less than 6-9 mm/sec, these do not get filled by sand. The effective
radius of a collector well is 75 to 85% of the individual lateral length.
 ADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE

Following are the main advantages of artificially recharging the

ground water aquifers.
 No large storage structures needed to store water. Structures
required are small and cost-effective
 Enhance the dependable yield of wells and hand pumps
 Negligible losses as compared to losses in surface storages
 Improved water quality due to dilution of harmful chemicals/ salts
 No adverse effects like inundation of large surface areas and loss
of crops
 No displacement of local population
 Reduction in cost of energy for lifting water especially where rise
in ground water level is substantial
 Utilizes the surplus surface runoff which otherwise drains off
DISADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE

• It can reduce the aquifer.

• May not be economically feasible .
• May cause environmental damage to the project area.
• A very full knowledge of the hydrogeology of an aquifer is required
before any full-scale recharge project is implemented.
June 2013