Feasibility of recharge shafts/injection wells for groundwater recharge in Patan district, Gujarat, India

For the industrial development, agricultural & economic growth the demand of groundwater has increased in north Gujarat alluvial plain. The groundwater Draft exceeds the groundwater recharge resulting in over exploitation of groundwater aquifers. This has resulted in continuous decline in water levels and reduction in the yield of the tube wells. Due to poor rainfall reliability and recurring drought conditions, the area could never recover the deficit of water extracted from groundwater resources. The artificial recharge to groundwater can only sustain the water levels or can arrest the rapid depletion of groundwater rate. The part of Patan taluka in Gujarat, India is selected for the construction of artificial recharge structures near the large storage village ponds. It is proposed to construct artificial recharge structures in seven villages of Patan taluka near these village ponds. The recharge potential is calculated taking 40 rainy days taking average rainfall as 770mm. If the recharge shaft is connected to the ponds at a depth, it is able to utilize the storage of ponds and recharge potential can then be calculated for a period of 180 days (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period). Thus calculating the runoff potential of seven recharge structures and considering the catchment of the area, the plan is considered feasible for recharge in seven villages of Patan Taluka.