Chem Da

EFFECTIVE MEASURES FOR
RECHARGING WATER TABLE

DIGITAL ASSIGNMENT-1
By-Aayush Agarwal (18BIT0385)
GROUNDWATER DEPLETION-
Groundwater is recharged naturally by rain and snow melt and to a smaller extent by
surface water (rivers and lakes). Groundwater recharge is an important process
for sustainable groundwater management, since the volume-rate abstracted from
an aquifer in the long term should be less than or equal to the volume-rate that is recharged.
FACTORS-
• Climate change
• Urbanization
• Drainage
• Impervious surfaces
• Soil compaction
• Groundwater pollution
NEED FOR GROUND WATER-

In most low rainfall areas of the country the availability of utilizable surface water is
so low that people have to depend largely on ground water for agriculture and
domestic use.
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ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE –
Artificial recharge is the process by which the ground water is augmented at a rate much
higher than those under natural condition of percolation.
ADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE -

• 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
• 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
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
Drainage
• 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
2
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
• Properly treated municipal and industrial wastewaters. This water should be used
only after ascertaining its quality
NEED FOR GROUND WATER-

In most low rainfall areas of the country the availability of utilizable surface water is
so low that people have to depend largely on ground water for agriculture and
domestic use.
METHODS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE-
3
SURFACE SPREADING-
• Flooding, the water is spread as a thin sheet. It requires a system of distribution
channel for the supply of water for flooding. Higher rate of vertical infiltration is
obtained on areas with undisturbed vegetation and sandy soil covering.
• Basins or percolation tanks: This is the most common method for artificial
recharge. In this method, water is impounded in series of basins or percolation
tank. The size of basin may depend upon the topography of area, in flatter area will
have large basin. This method is applicable in alluvial area as well as hard rock
formation.
• Seepage augmentation: Seepage from natural streams or rivers is one of the most
important sources of recharge of the ground water reservoir. When total water
supply available in a stream / river exceeds the rate of infiltration, the excess is
lost as run off. This run off can be arrested through check bunds or widening the
steam beds thus larger area is available to spread the river water increasing the
infiltration.
• Ditches/ Furrows: In areas with irregular topography ditches or furrow provide
maximum water contact area for recharge. This technique consists of a system of
shallow flat bottomed and closely spaced ditches / furrow which are used to carry
water from source like stream /canals and provide more percolation opportunity.
This technique required less soil preparation and is less sensitive to silting.
SUB-SURFACE INJECTION-
• Injection well & Recharge well: Firstly, injection wells are constructed to go into
the aquifers to directly “pump” water into them to achieve the objection of
groundwater replenishment. Instead of using engines and pumping water into the
aquifers, they just let the water replenish the aquifers under the force of gravity.
• Pits/ Shafts: In area where impervious layer is encountered at shallow depth the
pits & shafts are suitable structure for artificial recharge. These structures are
cost effective to recharge the aquifer directly. The advantage of shafts / pits
structure is that they do not require large piece of land like percolation tank &
other spreading method and there are practically no losses of water in form of soil
moisture and evaporation like other methods of spreading.
4
• Dug well: In alluvial as well as hard rock areas there are thousands of dug wells
have either gone dry due to considerable decline of water levels. These dug wells
can be used as recharge structure storm water and other surplus water from
canal etc. can be diverted into these structures to directly recharge the dried
aquifer.
INDUCED RECHARGE-
It is an indirect method of artificial recharge involving pumping from aquifer
hydraulically connected with surface water such as perennial streams, unlined
canal or lakes.  The heavy pumping lowers the groundwater level and cone of
depression is created. Lowering of water levels induces the surface water to
replenish this ground water.  This method is effective where stream bed is
connected to aquifer by sandy formation.

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EFFECTIVE MEASURES FOR

RECHARGING WATER TABLE

NEED FOR GROUND WATER-

ADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE -

IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS FOR RECHARGE –

NEED FOR GROUND WATER-

METHODS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE-

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