ESTIMATION OF NATURAL GROUND WATER RECHARGE

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TYPES OF ESTIMATION METHODS RECHARGE ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES (a)SOIL WATER BALANCE METHOD

(b)ZERO FLUX PLANE METHOD

(c)ONE DIMENSIONAL SOIL WATER FLOW MODEL (d)GROUND WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATION METHOD

(e)GROUND WATER BALANCE METHOD

INTRODUCTION
Ground water recharge may be explained as the process where by the amount of water present in or flowing through the interstices of the sub-soil increases by natural or artificial means. 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 volumerate that is recharged. Rainfall is the principal source for replenishment of moisture in the soil water system and recharge of ground water. Other sources include recharge from rivers, streams, irrigation water etc

TYPES OF ESTIMATION METHODS

Physical methods use the principles of soil physics to estimate recharge. The direct physical methods are those that attempt to actually measure the volume of water passing below the root zone. Indirect physical methods rely on the measurement or estimation of soil physical parameters, which along with soil physical principles. Chemical methods utilize the presence of relatively inert water-soluble substances, such as an isotopic tracer or chloride.

Numerical Models Recharge can be estimated using numerical methods, using such codes as HELP, UNSAT-H, SHAW, WEAP, and MIKE SHE.

RECHARGE ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES

The following methods are commonly in use for estimating natural ground water recharge: i) ii) iii) iv) v) vi) vii) viii) Soil water balance method Zero flux plane method One-dimensional soil water flow model Ground water level fluctuation method Ground water balance method Inverse modeling technique Hybrid water fluctuation method Isotope and solute profile techniques

SOIL WATER BALANCE METHOD:

In hydrology, a water balance equation can be used to describe the flow of water in and out of a system. The method is essentially a bookkeeping procedure, which estimates the balance between the inflow and outflow of water. Here, the volume of water required to saturate the soil is expressed as an equivalent depth of water and is called soil water deficit.

EQUATION

The soil water balance can be represented by: Ri = P - Ea + W R0

Where,

Ri P Ea WR0 -

recharge precipitation actual evapotranspiration. change in soil water storage. run off

ZERO FLUX PLANE METHOD

The zero flux plane method relies on the location of a plane of zero hydraulic gradient in the soil profile. Recharge over a time interval is obtained by summation of the changes in water contents below the plant. The position of the zero flux plane is usually determined by tensiometers.

EQUATION

Darcy's law gives the flux q, defined as the volume of water per unit time passing through the unit area at any depth:

ZERO FLUX PLANE METHOD CONTD.

Thus, knowing the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and potential gradient the flux may be determined. The hydraulic conductivity estimation presents more problems such as (i) K may vary by a factor of 103 or so over the normal moisture content of a typical soil and (ii) K differs depending on the place even in partly homogenous soil.

ONE DIMENSIONAL SOIL WATER FLOW MODEL

For recharge to occur, water has to move through the unsaturated zone until it reaches the water table. The equations commonly used is Van Genuchten function.

where n and m are characteristic constants which have to be determined for every soil type and m = 1-1/n

Equation in terms of reduced water content

GROUND WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATION METHOD

This is an indirect method of deducing the recharge from the fluctuation of the water table. The rise in the water table during the rainy season is used to estimate the recharge, provided that there is a distinct rainy season with the remainder of the year being relatively dry. the rise in the water table is primarily due to the rainfall recharge.

the rise in water table is >Ds, then rainfall recharge, Ri is given by:

GROUND WATER BALANCE METHOD

GROUND WATER BALANCE EQUATION

GROUND WATER BALANCE EQUATION CONTD.

The boundaries of an area usually studied do not represent streamlines i.e., they are not perpendicular to the equipotential line. Hence, the lateral inflow and outflow must be accounted for the balance equation. All elements of the water balance equation are computed using independent methods wherever possible. The discrepancy of water balance is given as a residual term of the water balance equation and includes the error in the determination of the components.

CONCLUSION
While estimating natural ground water recharge, it is essential to have a good idea of the different recharge mechanisms and their importance in the study area. Choice of methods should also be guided by the objectives of the study, available data and the possibilities to get supplementary data. Economy, too is an important factor. It is desirable to apply more than one method based on independent input data.