How can we recharge the Groundwater?

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How can we recharge the Groundwater? 

      In this article, I will demonstrate the process of replenishment of the Groundwater. Due to the increased use of Groundwater the level of water in Groundwater is declined. So, here I will discuss the processes of how can we replenish or recharge the Groundwater. 

What is Groundwater Recharge?

                                    Groundwater Recharge is the hydrologic process through which water moves from surface water to groundwater. The process of recharge means the downward movement of water from surface water to groundwater. Through which water enters into an aquifer. In this process of recharge, water enters into the vadose zone ( Unsaturated Zone) below the plant root zone and is expressed as a flux ( disturbance appears on ant surface or substrata) on the water table. It also comprises the water that enters the saturated zone from the water table. This zone of saturation contains the Groundwater resources. Basically, Groundwater recharge is the replenishment and addition of water in groundwater resources that are removed by pumping of groundwater and used for irrigation in the agricultural fields. It is also known as a deep percolation and deep drainage. Groundwater Recharge is the process through which water seeps down into the groundwater and water is collected into an aquifer.

Methods for replenishment of Groundwater:

                                           There are two methods to recharge the groundwater.

Replenishment of Groundwater by Natural Process:

               The natural process through which water replenishes in the groundwater is the hydrological cycle or water cycle.

Replenishment of Groundwater by Artificial Process:

               The artificial process through which water recharge into the groundwater is an anthropogenic process where water or reclaimed water ( reused sewage water for various purposes after treatment ).

1.  Recharge through Water Cycle:

                                                   Through the water cycle or hydrological cycle, Groundwater is replenished by rain or stormwater. This process naturally replenishes the groundwater by precipitation. The process of infiltration plays an important and prominent role in the replenishment of groundwater. Unfortunately, the development, of pavement, waterlogging, and hard surfaces prevent rain, precipitation the movement of water into groundwater. Due to this hard surface, the infiltration water declined enhanced the surface runoff and the groundwater recharge was reduced. In the rainy season and when precipitation occurs then water, ice melt and flood water enters the surface and infiltrates beneath the surface, and then deep percolates. Water moves vertically downward beneath the surface and collects in the aquifer and then moves from an unconfined aquifer to a confined aquifer or in the zone of saturation that is below the water table. In this zone of saturation, water is collected and it considers the groundwater in the form of pore spaces and in between the pore spaces. This is the process through which water is recharged into the Groundwater that is declined due to the pumping of groundwater for human use.

   
   2. Depression-Focused Recharge of Groundwater:

                                                      Here's the term field capacity of land or soil, this process means the ability of soil to hold the water. When precipitation occurs then the excess water from the field capacity of soil deep percolates into the groundwater from the root zones. Due to the percolation of water through the ground surface water is recharged into the groundwater and an aquifer.

  3. Through Rivers and Lakes Recharge of Groundwater:

                                          Water in rivers and in lakes also have contribute to recharging and replenishing the groundwater. Because in rivers and in lakes water infiltrates from the surface where water runoff like ponding into the groundwater and collects water into an aquifer or saturated zones.

  4. Through Wetlands Recharge of Groundwater:

                                       Wetlands play an important role in the recharge and replenishment of Groundwater. Wetland is an area in which water is collected in any soil either present over the surface or into the surface. Wetland is an area in which aquatic plants grow. The soil under the wetlands is mostly impermeable and water infiltrates into the ground and contributes to the recharge of groundwater. Wetlands depend upon the soil type, perimeter-to-volume ratio, and vegetation. We consider a high perimeter-to-volume ratio when small wetlands have high infiltration. Soil types play role in the infiltration of water from the soil and are collected as recharge of water.