Ground Water Recharge Techniques

CONVENTIONAL AND
UNCONVENTIONAL
METHODS OF
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Content
1. Conventional Methods of Groundwater

Recharge
2. Unconventional Methods of Groundwater
Recharge
3. Case Studies and Impact Analysis
Section 1
CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Conventional Methods of Ground Water Recharge
Surface Spreading
Sub-Surface Rainwater harvesting
Techniques
Techniques Rainwater harvesting is a
The most widely practiced
methods of artificial When impervious layers sustainable method used to
recharge of groundwater overlie deeper aquifers, recharge groundwater
employ different the infiltration from resources, vital for
techniques of increasing surface cannot recharge maintaining water availability
the contact area and the sub-surface aquifer in regions facing water
resident time of surface- under natural conditions. scarcity. Through this process,
water with the soil so that The techniques adopted rainwater is collected from
maximum quantity of to recharge the confined surfaces like rooftops, roads,
water can infiltrate and aquifers directly from or land surfaces and
augment the groundwater surface-water channeled into storage
storage. Areas with gently facilities such as tanks,
source are grouped reservoirs, or recharge pits.
sloping land without under sub-surface
gullies or ridges are most This collected rainwater then
recharge techniques. percolates into the ground,
suited for surface-water
spreading techniques. replenishing underground
aquifers and restoring
groundwater levels.
Surface Flooding
Surface Spreading Techniques
Surface Flooding
The technique of flooding is very useful in selected areas where a
favorable hydro-geological situation exists for recharging the
unconfined aquifer by spreading the surplus surface-water from
canals / streams over large area for sufficiently long period so that
it recharges the groundwater body. This technique can be used for
gently sloping land with slope around 1 to 3 percentage points
Ditches and Furrows
without ditches & furrows.
Ditches and Furrows

In areas with irregular topography, shallow, flat-bottomed and
closely spaced ditches and furrows provide maximum water
contact area for recharging water from the source stream or canal.
This technique requires less soil preparation than the recharge
basin technique and is less sensitive to silting.
Recharge Basins Recharge Basins
Artificial recharge basins are either excavated or enclosed by dykes
or levees. They are commonly built parallel to ephemeral or
intermittent stream-channels. The water contact area in this
method is quite high which typically ranges from 75 to 90
percentage points of the total recharge area. In this method,
efficient use of space is made and the shape of basins can be
adjusted to suite the terrain condition and the available space.
Gully plugs/Loose Boulder structures
Gully plugs/Loose Boulder structures
Gully plugs & Loose boulder structures are the smallest run-off
conservation structures built across small gullies and streams
rushing down the hill slopes carrying drainage of tiny catchments
during rainy season. Usually, the barrier is constructed by using
local stones, earth and weathered rock, brushwood, and other
such local materials.
Bench terracing
Bench terracing
Sloping lands with surface gradients up to 8 percentage points
having adequate soil cover can be levelled through bench terracing
for bringing under cultivation. It helps in soil conservation and
holding run-off water on terraced area for longer duration giving
rise to increased infiltration recharge.
Contour trenches/barriers
Contour trenches involve a watershed management practice so as
Contour trenches/barriers
to build up soil moisture storages. This technique is generally
adopted in areas receiving low rainfall. In this method, the
monsoon run-off is impounded by excavating trenches on the
sloping ground all along contours of equal elevation. Contour
trenches are taken up on lands with moderate slopes without
involving terracing.
Injection Wells
Sub-Surface Techniques
Injection Wells
MAR involves injecting treated surface water or reclaimed water
directly into aquifers through wells. This method helps replenish
depleted aquifers and maintain sustainable groundwater levels,
offering a strategic approach to water resource management.
Gravity-Head Recharge Wells Gravity-Head Recharge Wells

In addition to specially designed injection wells, ordinary bore
wells and dug wells used for pumping may also be alternatively
used as recharge wells, whenever source water becomes available.
In certain situations, such wells may also be constructed for
effecting recharge by gravity inflow. In areas where water levels are
currently declining due to over-development, using available
structures for inducing recharge may be the immediately available
economic option.
Recharge Shafts Recharge Shafts

In case, poorly permeable strata overlie the water table aquifer
located deep below land surface, a shaft is used for causing
artificial recharge. Vertical shafts are constructed to facilitate the
direct injection of surface water into aquifers, aiding in
groundwater replenishment and storage, ensuring reliable access
to clean water resources.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rooftop Rainwater Surface Runoff

Harvesting Harvesting
This method involves By capturing and storing
capturing rainwater rainwater runoff from
from rooftops and surfaces such as roads
directing it to storage and open areas, this
tanks or recharge pits. method facilitates
The collected rainwater groundwater recharge
then percolates into the and helps mitigate
ground, recharging the urban flooding,
aquifers and promoting contributing to
self-sufficiency in water sustainable urban water
supply. management.
Recharge Trenches
These are shallow excavations filled with coarse materials
that allow rainwater or surface water to percolate into the
ground and recharge the aquifers. Recharge trenches are
effective in enhancing groundwater levels in urban and
rural areas, promoting equitable access to water resources.
Soak pits
This method involves constructing underground pits filled
with aggregate materials to facilitate the infiltration of
rainwater or surface runoff, leading to groundwater
recharge and enhancing water resilience.
French Drains
These are perforated pipes installed in trenches filled with
gravel, allowing the collected water to percolate into the
ground and recharge the aquifers, contributing to
sustainable water management practices.
Unconventional Techniques
Aquifer Modification Groundwater Conservation

Structures
These techniques modify the
aquifer characteristics to The water artificially recharged
increase its capacity to store and into an aquifer is immediately
transmit water. With such governed by natural
groundwater flow regime. It is
modifications, the aquifer, at
least locally, becomes capable of necessary to adopt
receiving more natural as well as groundwater conservation
artificial recharge. measures so that the recharged
water remains available when
Hence, in a sense these needed.
techniques are artificial yield
augmentation measures rather
than artificial recharge
measures.
Aquifer Modification
Bore Blasting
Bore Blasting
These techniques are suited to hard crystalline and
consolidated strata. Through hydro-geological investigation,
suitable sites are fixed where the aquifer displays limited yield
that dwindles or dries in winter or summer months.
All the blast holes reach the depth of the aquifer required to
be benefited, whether unconfined or confined. All the
charges of row or circle are exploded at a time.
Hydro-Fracturing
Hydro-fracturing is a recent technique that is used to improve
secondary porosity in hard rock strata. Hydro-fracturing is a
process whereby hydraulic pressure is applied to an
isolated zone of bore wells to initiate and propagate fractures
and extend existing fractures. The water under high-pressure
break up the fissures cleans away clogging and leads to a
better contact with adjacent water bearing strata.
The yield of the bore well is improved
Jacket well techniques Jacket well techniques
Jacketing of well with the blasted bore holes increases
effective diameter of the well thereby improves the storativity
& transmissivity of the aquifer. Boreholes are drilled out
around the targeted well to the depth little less than the
depth of the well. Subsequently blasting is carried out to
create artificial fractures in the compact rocks. These bores
are drilled either in circular or any other desired pattern
depending upon the prevalent topography and
hydrogeological condition. Sand is generally staved in the bore
holes for effective permeability.
Groundwater Conservation
Structures
Groundwater Dams / Underground Barriers
A groundwater dam is a sub-surface barrier across stream that
retards the natural groundwater flow of the system
and stores water below ground surface to meet the demands
during the period of greatest need. The main purpose of
groundwater dam is to arrest the flow of groundwater out of
the sub-basin and increase the storage within the
aquifer.
Fracture-Sealing Cementation Technique

In many hard rock areas, the groundwater circulation to
deeper levels is governed by shear, fault or fracture plane
indicated by lineaments. The boreholes located on such zones
prove productive but due to dissipation of the limited
storage along preferred flow planes, in case of adverse
topographical situation, these become dry by the end of
winter or summer. Fracture-sealing cementation is a suitable
water conservation measure in such situations.

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CONVENTIONAL AND

1. Conventional Methods of Groundwater

Ditches and Furrows

Gravity-Head Recharge Wells Gravity-Head Recharge Wells

Recharge Shafts Recharge Shafts

Rooftop Rainwater Surface Runoff

Aquifer Modification Groundwater Conservation

Fracture-Sealing Cementation Technique

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