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Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Part 631 National Engineering Handbook United States Department of Part 631 Agriculture National Engineering Handbook Natural Resources Conservation Service Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Part 631 National Engineering Handbook Issued January 2010 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all pro- grams.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for commu- nication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. (210–VI–NEH, Amend. 34, January 2010) Preface The NRCS National Engineering Handbook (NEH), Part 631.33, Groundwa- ter Recharge, is derived from the following publication: • Technical Release No. 36, Ground Water Recharge, released by NRCS, June 1967 Note the following changes (canceled documents are replaced by the new documents): Canceled documents • NEH, Section 18, Ground Water (June 1978) • Technical Release No. 36, Ground-Water Recharge (June 1967) • NEH, Part 631, Chapter 33, Investigations for Ground Water Re- sources Development (November 1998) New documents NEH chapters in Part 631: • 631.30, Groundwater Hydrology and Geology • 631.31, Groundwater Investigations • 631.32, Well Design and Spring Development • 631.33, Groundwater Recharge (210–VI–NEH, Amend. 34, January 2010) Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Part 631 National Engineering Handbook (210–VI–NEH, Amend. 34, January 2010) Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Contents 631.3300 Groundwater recharge 33–1 (a) Basic principles of recharge ........................................................................33–1 (b) Water rights and legal aspects .....................................................................33–1 (c) Hydrogeological aspects ..............................................................................33–1 (d) Measures for ground water recharge ..........................................................33–5 (e) Quality of water for recharge .......................................................................33–6 (f) Benefits of recharge ......................................................................................33–8 631.3301 References 33–9 Table Table 33–1 Solubility of air in water as a function of temperature 33–7 Figures Figure 33–1 Groundwater pathways in solutioned limestone 33–3 (karst topography) Figure 33–2 Potentiometric surface in unconsolidated deposits 33–3 Figure 33–3 Occluded aquifer 33–3 Figure 33–4 Artesian aquifer 33–4 Figure 33–5 Semipermeable formation limiting recharge opportunities 33–4 (210–VI–NEH, Amend. 34, January 2010) 33–iii Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Part 631 National Engineering Handbook 33–iv (210–VI–NEH, Amend. 34, January 2010) Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge (c) Hydrogeological aspects 631.3300 Groundwater Groundwater storage is a function of voids in earth recharge materials capable of absorbing, transmitting, storing, and yielding water. Some voids are large enough to (a) Basic principles of recharge transmit water freely, whereas others are so small that surface tension exceeds hydrostatic pressures, and the transmission of water is prevented. Groundwater recharge is one phase in the manage- ment of a groundwater basin. In some areas, long-term Useful groundwater storage capacity is not measured withdrawal exceeds long-term recharge, and water is by the porosity of the reservoir, but by the amount of being “mined.” Without proper management to obtain water that the reservoir will yield by gravity drainage. a sustained yield, artificial recharge becomes a mere This is commonly termed “specific yield.” It is the dif- stopgap measure. It may be possible to manage a groundwater reservoir like a surface reservoir so that ference between porosity and field moisture capacity. water is placed in storage in periods of excess and Potential aquifers below the zone of soil moisture are withdrawn in periods of shortage. already at field capacity. Therefore, most of the re- charged water either can be recovered or will move to Natural recharge may vary from practically none to natural discharge areas. nearly all of the runoff from a drainage area. When water is available, artificial recharge may be used to An aquifer is defined as a water-bearing formation. In supplement naturally recharged amounts. this section, the term will also be applied to potential water-bearing formations. An aquiclude is a formation which will not furnish an appreciable supply of water (b) Water rights and legal aspects to wells or springs. It is used to designate a barrier to the movement of water. Water rights laws vary greatly from State to State. In the eastern half of the United States, most water rights The following conditions indicate possibilities for are based on court decisions or on common law in natural or artificial recharge: which land ownership is the source of the right. In the Western United States, water rights are based mostly • formations of sand, gravel, or highly fractured on legislative acts in which the source of the right lies rocks either underground or exposed over a in the beneficial use of the water. Prior appropriation large area or in stream channels and State regulation in the Western States are strong • presence of solutioned limestone (karst or factors in the continued beneficial use of water. Many sinkhole topography), fractured or faulted States have extended their water laws to include zones, or numerous small cavities in rock for- groundwater, springs, and wells. These laws may be mations, either underground or exposed on the very rigid in regard to prior appropriation, the quantity land surface or stream channels and purpose of water use, the development of new wells, and the surface storage of waters. • absence of barriers to the horizontal or vertical movement of groundwater Local and State water laws that pertain to groundwa- • feasible locations for the installation of re- ter recharge must be followed. Some of the factors to charge wells, dams, diversions, or other re- consider are: charge structures • prior appropriation of surface waters • diversion of water from streams where a sus- These conditions do not necessarily indicate possibili- tained flow is needed to remove waste, debris, ties for beneficial recharge. The water may emerge in or appropriation of surface waters recharge nearby springs or channels or may recharge an aquifer that is so deep that recovery is impractical. These • recharge of polluted, untreated, or otherwise conditions should be studied carefully to determine undesirable water whether recharge is feasible. • creation of an excessively high water table (210–VI–NEH, Amend. 34, January 2010) 33–1 Chapter 33 Groundwater Recharge Part 631 National Engineering Handbook Braided streams, broad alluvial fans, and glacioflu- • vertical and horizontal hydraulic conductivity vial deposits may present excellent opportunities for values of the materials under the recharge area water spreading. These conditions may be especially • extent of area affected by recharge significant where water from mountain streams can be spread and recharged into aquifers that extend into An investigation to determine the location, extent, areas where the water can be recovered for beneficial permeability, and other physical characteristics of the use. earth materials and their structure is needed to select the site best adapted to artificial recharge. The great- Geologic reports, groundwater reports, well logs, and est volumes and rates of recharge are possible in thick descriptions of stratigraphic sections may indicate formations of pervious sands and gravels or porous the possibility of recharge, storage, and recovery of and cavernous rocks. groundwater. This preliminary information may justify a detailed groundwater investigation. (1) The controlling stratum Unless injection wells are used, the stratum that will Groundwater recharge may also be influenced by such control the infiltration rate must be identified. This things as the season of the year, intensity and duration usually is the least permeable stratum between the of precipitation, topography, vegetative cover, soils, aquifer and the recharge surface. However, thickness land use, evapotransporation, and availability of stor- is a factor. Recharge rates are controlled by the stra- age, etc. tum that has the lowest quotient of permeability divid- ed by thickness, considering the head of water applied The rates and amounts of recharge may be improved to be constant. Identifying the controlling stratum may by: entail some drilling, testing, and sampling. • increasing opportunity time by regulating the flow of water over the intake area After the controlling stratum has been identified and physical properties determined, the depth, attitude, • trapping sediment and removing materials or areal extent, and location and elevation of outcrops debris which might seal the intake
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