Groundwater Recharge

Groundwater recharge using reclaimed wastewater serves to mitigate water table decline, protect groundwater in coastal aquifers against salt-water intrusion, and store reclaimed water for future use. Groundwater recharge technique involves surface spreading within basins and through direct injection into aquifers. Surface spreading utilizes flooding, constructed wetlands, ridge and furrow, and infiltration basins. This application technique improves the quality of the reclaimed water considerably as it percolates successively by soil, unsaturated zone and aquifer. Direct injection involves the pumping of reclaimed water directly into an aquifer. Drawbacks of this method involve high effluent treatment cost and the high cost of the essential injecting facilities. The major disadvantage of groundwater recharge using reclaimed water is the increased risk of groundwater contamination