Ground Water Recharge : Use of Surface Drains

The Indo-Gangetic plains receive rainfall ranging between 650 and 1000 mm, most of which is concentrated during the three months of monsoon period. Out of this, only about 200 mm naturally recharges the ground water aquifers and the remaining part runs off unharnessed into the ocean. Therefore potential exist to capture part of runoff and to store it underground which will be available for use during dry periods. Providing check structures across the unlined drains can increase the recharge capacity of drains. This book, therefore provides a novel method of recharging the ground water. It considers two scenarios i.e., when check structres are used across the drain and when they are not used. Khepar's model has been used to find optimum number of check structured based on their hydraulic performance. Economic analysis has also been carried out on a drain in Haryana to find out the optimum number of check structures based on difference of annual benefit and annual cost. This book should be especially useful to the professionals in water resources field, or anyone else who may be considering methods of ground water recharge.