Evaluating Efficacy of Recharge Structures in Augmenting Groundwater Resources in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Groundwater play a vital role in stabilizing Indian agriculture, but its indiscriminate uses is resulting in fast depletion and degradation of this key natural resource. Sustainable groundwater resource management is, therefore, a priority issue before the country.Enhancing artificial groundwater recharge by adopting suitable technological interventions can be an option. Two cavity-type recharge structures with radial filter were designed and installed with village ponds at Kutba and Nirmana villages, and their impact on groundwater was assessed. Recharge rates varied from 382 m3.day-1to 906 m3.day-1 during three test cycles,each of 8 days duration. As estimated, 27,304 m3 surplus water was recharged through the recharge well at Kutba site during December 2017 to March 2018. Similarly,0.2 mgroundwater rise was recorded beneath and around the structure at Nirmana during monsoon 2018. Results of field investigations revealed that cavity-type recharge structure in combination with a pond and radial filter can be a good option for recharging surplus canal and rainwater for augmentation of water resources in groundwater depleting areas.