Managed Aquifer Recharge

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) includes a wide variety of different techniques (Gale & Dillon 2005), with which water (e.g. stormwater, surface water or treated waste water) is intentionally introduced into an aquifer with the aim to store, treat the water or build up a hydraulic barrier against salt water intrusion. Subsurface passage is able to treat many water-related hazards of high relevance in developing and newly industrialized countries (e.g. suspended solids, pathogens, algal toxins) (Hülshoff et al. 2009). In addition, MAR gives the ability to manage highly varying flows, using the aquifer as a storage reservoir into which excess water, e.g. during monsoon periods, is infiltrated and recovered at times of higher demand (Gale & Dillon 2005).

In India, MAR is an attractive solution to improve water quantity and quality for communities with MAR implementation programmes having been funded in recent years by the Government. The master plan of the Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) of India aims to build 3.9 million recharge structures nationwide over a period of 10 years (CGWB 2002).

References

Hülshoff, I., Greskowiak, J. & Grützmacher, G. (2009): TECHNEAU Deliverable 5.2.3: Analysis of the vulnerability of bank filtration systems to climate change by comparing their effectiveness under varying environmental conditions 


Hülshoff, I., Greskowiak, J.. Wiese, B. & Grützmacher, G. (2009): TECHNEAU Deliverable 5.2.9: Relevance and opportunities of bank filtration to provide safe water for developing and newly industrialised countries

Gale, I. & Dillon, P. (2005), 'Strategies for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) in semi-arid areas', United Nations Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, UNESCO IHP.

CGWB (2002), 'Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India', Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India..