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Improving Groundwater Recharge by Ventilation of Unsaturated Zone


Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, India
 

Groundwater recharge is affected by the entrapment of air in the unsaturated zone. During the infiltration process, air phase moves ahead of the wetting front and confined air mass resists wetting front propagation. This study aims at assessing the feasibility of improving groundwater recharge by providing ventilation in the unsaturated zone through the removal of entrapped air. In a laboratory sand column, ponded infiltration tests were carried out by providing vents of different diameters. Increase in diameter and number of vents improved the infiltration rate. Thus, simple pipes of any diameter inserted within the unsaturated zone beneath the recharge structures such as check dams, percolation ponds, surface spreading, etc. will lead to rapid increase in infiltration rate.

Keywords

Groundwater Recharge, Infiltration, Unsaturated Zone, Ventilation.
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  • Improving Groundwater Recharge by Ventilation of Unsaturated Zone

Abstract Views: 184  |  PDF Views: 79

Authors

V. K. Haritha
Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, India
L. Elango
Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, India

Abstract


Groundwater recharge is affected by the entrapment of air in the unsaturated zone. During the infiltration process, air phase moves ahead of the wetting front and confined air mass resists wetting front propagation. This study aims at assessing the feasibility of improving groundwater recharge by providing ventilation in the unsaturated zone through the removal of entrapped air. In a laboratory sand column, ponded infiltration tests were carried out by providing vents of different diameters. Increase in diameter and number of vents improved the infiltration rate. Thus, simple pipes of any diameter inserted within the unsaturated zone beneath the recharge structures such as check dams, percolation ponds, surface spreading, etc. will lead to rapid increase in infiltration rate.

Keywords


Groundwater Recharge, Infiltration, Unsaturated Zone, Ventilation.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv116%2Fi11%2F1914-1919