Enhancing groundwater recharge in the main Karoo, South Africa during periods of drought through managed aquifer recharge

<p>Groundwater, and its replenishment via recharge, is critical to livelihoods and poverty alleviation in drylands of sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, yet the processes by which groundwater is replenished remain inadequately observed and resolved. Here, we present three lines of evidence, from an extensively-monitored wellfield in central semi-arid Tanzania, indicating focused groundwater recharge occurring via leakage from episodic, ephemeral stream discharges. First, the duration of ephemeral streamflow observed from daily records from 2007 to 2016 correlates strongly (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.85) with the magnitude of groundwater recharge events observed and estimated from piezometric observations. Second, high-resolution (hourly) monitoring of groundwater levels and stream stage, established in advance of the 2015-16 El Ni&#241;o, shows the formation and decay of groundwater mounds beneath episodically inundated adjacent streambeds. Third, stable-isotope ratios of O and H of groundwater and precipitation as well as perennial and ephemeral surface waters trace the origin of groundwater to ephemeral stream discharges. The identification and characterisation of focused groundwater recharge have important implications not only, locally, for protecting and potentially augmenting replenishment of a wellfield supplying the capital of Tanzania through Managed Aquifer Recharge but also, more widely, in understanding and modelling groundwater recharge in dryland environments.</p>

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Monitoring and modeling infiltration-recharge dynamics of managed aquifer recharge with desalinated seawater

10.5194/hess-2016-613 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Yonatan Ganot ◽

Ran Holtzman ◽

Noam Weisbrod ◽

Ido Nitzan ◽

Yoram Katz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Model ◽

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Multiple Scales ◽

Pressure Sensors ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Analytical Models ◽

Low Permeability ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Groundwater Levels ◽

Infiltration Rates

Abstract. We study the relation between surface infiltration and groundwater recharge during managed aquifer recharge (MAR) with desalinated seawater in an infiltration pond, at the Menashe site that overlies the northern part of the Israeli Coastal Aquifer. We monitor infiltration dynamics at multiple scales (up to the scale of the entire pond) by measuring the ponding depth, sediment water content and groundwater levels, using pressure sensors, single-ring infiltrometers, soil sensors and observation wells. During a month (January 2015) of continuous intensive MAR (2.45 · 106 m3 discharged to a 10.7 hectare area), groundwater level has risen by 17 m attaining full connection with the pond, while average infiltration rates declined by almost 2 orders of magnitude (from ~ 11 to ~ 0.4 m d−1). This reduction can be explained solely by the lithology of the unsaturated zone that includes relatively low-permeability sediments, whereas clogging processes at pond-surface – abundant in many MAR operations – are negated by the high-quality desalinated seawater or negligible compared to the low-permeability layers. Recharge during infiltration was estimated reasonably well by simple analytical models, whereas a numerical model was used for estimating groundwater recharge after the end of infiltration. It was found that a calibrated numerical model with a one-dimensional representative sediment profile is able to capture MAR dynamics, including temporal reduction of infiltration rates, drainage and groundwater recharge. Measured infiltration rates of an independent MAR event (January 2016) fitted well to those calculated by the calibrated numerical model, showing the model validity. The successful quantification methodologies of the temporal groundwater recharge are useful for MAR practitioners and can serve as an input for groundwater flow models.

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Icing phenomena for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and it’s feflow simulation result

Proceedings of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences ◽

10.5564/pmas.v59i1.1134 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 16-31

Author(s):

Nasanbayar N

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Water Availability ◽

Water Source ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Cold Period ◽

Early Winter ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Winter Cold ◽

Recharge Rates ◽

Natural Recharge

Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, shows a highly dynamic urban and industrial development, with a strong increase of population. Thus, water demand is continuously rising while water availability is in general low and less reliable. The semi-arid and cold environment shows a high variability in precipitation and river discharge, with a general tendency towards decreasing water availability due to increasing air temperatures and thus rising potential evaporation. In parallel with the city’s development, the extended groundwater aquifer shows a clear decline, and the groundwater levels drop significantly. Therefore, a groundwater management system based on managed aquifer recharge is proposed and a strategy to implement these measures in the Tuul valley is presented. In this study considered enhancement of natural recharge rates during the early winter cold period, an increase of groundwater recharge through creating ice storages, due to keep water source as in ice form on surface. In dry season March to May ice storage recharge surface and groundwater by melting where Tuul River is non-flow condition. In this paper also written matlab icing code in water supply wells location, limited and unlimited area. The study of icing was processed in feflow simulation scenarios for artificially recharging groundwater resources.In this study considered feflow simulation scenarios for artificially recharging groundwater resources like enhancement of natural recharge rates during the early winter cold period, an increase of groundwater recharge through creating ice storages, due to keep water source as in ice form on surface, drainage canal recharging aquifer from opposite side, constructing underground dam that accumulates groundwater behind. The result shown that one of the possibilities recharge groundwater in dry season is icing method which creates ice sheets over ice and build ice storages in winter, keep water in ice form.

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Managed aquifer recharge: the widening gap between law and policy in India

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2015.074 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. 1159-1165 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P. Sakthivel ◽

L. Elango ◽

S. Amirthalingam ◽

C. E. Pratap ◽

N. Brunner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Water Policy ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Groundwater Depletion ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Indian States ◽

Law And Policy

The past decade has witnessed discussions on various options to overcome groundwater depletion, such as rainwater harvesting (RWH) and ‘artificial recharge’ methods. This paper addresses law and policy issues relating to managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Based on an analysis of the National Water Policy of India and water polices and laws of the Indian states, a concrete case study, namely Chennai metropolitan area, has been studied in detail. The city of Chennai and the State of Tamil Nadu provide a favorable atmosphere for groundwater recharge, making, e.g. RWH mandatory. However, the legal framework does not support more systematic approaches towards MAR and the administrative praxis does not ensure that groundwater recharge is offset by an increase of illegal groundwater extraction.

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Monitoring and modeling infiltration–recharge dynamics of managed aquifer recharge with desalinated seawater

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-21-4479-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 4479-4493 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Yonatan Ganot ◽

Ran Holtzman ◽

Noam Weisbrod ◽

Ido Nitzan ◽

Yoram Katz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Model ◽

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Multiple Scales ◽

Pressure Sensors ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Analytical Models ◽

Low Permeability ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Groundwater Levels ◽

Infiltration Rates

Abstract. We study the relation between surface infiltration and groundwater recharge during managed aquifer recharge (MAR) with desalinated seawater in an infiltration pond, at the Menashe site that overlies the northern part of the Israeli Coastal Aquifer. We monitor infiltration dynamics at multiple scales (up to the scale of the entire pond) by measuring the ponding depth, sediment water content and groundwater levels, using pressure sensors, single-ring infiltrometers, soil sensors, and observation wells. During a month (January 2015) of continuous intensive MAR (2.45  ×  106 m3 discharged to a 10.7 ha area), groundwater level has risen by 17 m attaining full connection with the pond, while average infiltration rates declined by almost 2 orders of magnitude (from ∼  11 to ∼  0.4 m d−1). This reduction can be explained solely by the lithology of the unsaturated zone that includes relatively low-permeability sediments. Clogging processes at the pond-surface – abundant in many MAR operations – are negated by the high-quality desalinated seawater (turbidity ∼  0.2 NTU, total dissolved solids ∼  120 mg L−1) or negligible compared to the low-permeability layers. Recharge during infiltration was estimated reasonably well by simple analytical models, whereas a numerical model was used for estimating groundwater recharge after the end of infiltration. It was found that a calibrated numerical model with a one-dimensional representative sediment profile is able to capture MAR dynamics, including temporal reduction of infiltration rates, drainage and groundwater recharge. Measured infiltration rates of an independent MAR event (January 2016) fitted well to those calculated by the calibrated numerical model, showing the model validity. The successful quantification methodologies of the temporal groundwater recharge are useful for MAR practitioners and can serve as an input for groundwater flow models.

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Recharge and Recycling

High and Dry ◽

10.12987/yale/9780300220384.003.0010 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

William M. Alley ◽

Rosemarie Alley

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Water Resources ◽

Population Growth ◽

Water Supply ◽

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Recycled Water ◽

The World

Managed aquifer recharge is a widespread and growing practice. In addition, using recycled water for groundwater recharge and water supply continues to grow as water resources are increasingly strained by population growth and climate change. Through a series of examples from around the world, the chapter illustrates the value as well as limitations of managed aquifer recharge and recycled water.

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Opportunities and challenges for implementing managed aquifer recharge models in drought-prone Barind tract, Bangladesh

Applied Water Science ◽

10.1007/s13201-021-01530-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Md. Iquebal Hossain ◽

Md. Niamul Bari ◽

Md. Shafi Uddin Miah

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Managed Aquifer Recharge ◽

Storm Water ◽

Water Runoff ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Groundwater Levels ◽

Check Dams ◽

Supplementary Irrigation ◽

Barind Tract

AbstractThis study focuses on the Barind tract, a drought prone area situated in the north-west region of Bangladesh where inadequate rainfall and limited surface water have created high dependence on groundwater for irrigation and other purposes, leading to significant declines in groundwater level. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) offers a potential solution to restore groundwater levels. This study sets out to identify the opportunities and challenges for implementing MAR in the Barind tract. To accomplish this aim, different data sets including bore log lithology, rainfall, groundwater levels, information about re-excavated ponds, dighis, kharies, beels, check dams, rubber dams, dug wells and other necessary information were collected from the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and other sources and analyzed. Major opportunities for MAR are identified for about 2000 km of re-excavated kharies (canals) containing about 750 check dams, more than 3000 re-excavated ponds, a number of beels (comparatively large marshes) and other water bodies which are used to conserve runoff storm water for supplementary irrigation. The conserved water can be used for groundwater recharge and subsequently abstracted for irrigation. Furthermore, roof-top rain water from buildings can also be used for groundwater recharge purposes. In contrast, the major challenges include the high turbidity of storm water runoff leading to clogging of MAR structures, inadequacy of conventional direct surface methods of recharge due to the presence of a 15 m or more thick upper clay layer with limited percolation capacity, and lack of practical knowledge on MAR. Therefore, overcoming the challenges for MAR application is a prerequisite to maximize the opportunities from MAR that can support the sustainable use of groundwater resources.

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