Effectiveness of check dam and percolation pond with percolation wells for artificial groundwater recharge using groundwater models

Population growth and higher living standards have resulted in ever-increasing demand for water. For the present study natural recharge was computed from a water balance model and daily water level fluctuations were measured to study the increase in water level due to artificial recharge. Numerical models were developed using MODFLOW to analyze the feasibility of different artificial recharge arrangements such as check dam and percolation pond with percolation wells individually and in combination and evaluate the effectiveness of the structures in recharging the aquifer. The maximum increase in water level was found to be 3.46 m, 2.54 m and 4.7 m respectively for the check dam, percolation pond with three percolation wells and combined structure arrangement after 2 years of artificial recharge. The zone of influence was obtained as 400 m, 600 m and 500 m respectively for the check dam, percolation pond and combined structure system. Water level fluctuations also proved the same. Water level increase obtained from the natural recharge study was only of the order of 0.2 m. Artificial recharge is found to be very effective for sustainable development of water resources and the percolation pond was found to be the most appropriate structure for groundwater recharge for the study area.