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

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-1 filter were designed⁻¹ and installed with village ponds at Kutba and Nirmana villages, and their impact on groundwater was assessed. Recharge rates varied from 382 m3.day-1 to 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 m water table 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.