ASSESSMENT OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE OF GROUNDWATER THROUGH RECHARGE WELL

Abstract

Groundwater is the largest source of fresh water available on earth, which is exploited to satisfy our needs for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes. With the increase in population, the, demand of water for various purposes has increased manifold during past decades. Surface water sources are limited in nature and open land is decreasing day by day for natural recharging. More abstraction of groundwater in comparison to natural recharge results in depletion of groundwater storage; which needs to be artificially recharged from surplus surface water to meet the demand in times of water shortage. Artificial recharge of groundwater is becoming increasingly important in groundwater management. Artificial recharge is a process by which excess surface water is directed into the ground — either by spreading on the surface, by using recharge wells or by altering.natural conditions to increase infiltration — to replenish an aquifer. Recharge wells are used to replenish groundwater when an aquifer to be recharged is deep and separated from the surface by --Material of low permeability. In Baghra, Shahpur and Budhana Blocks of Muzaffarnagar District, UP Irrigation Department has constructed 21 number of recharge wells along Harsauli drain to rechaige the second (confined) aquifer which is being over exploited especially for irrigation purpose.