Code
N13
Sector
Hydro Morphology
Summary

Groundwater is the part of infiltrated water which composes the water resource for population and human activities.  Previous modifications of the landscape have reduced the infiltration capacity of many European soils, thereby limiting the rate at which precipitation is able to infiltrate and recharge groundwater aquifers. Restoration of natural infiltration to groundwater enables a lowering of run-off from surrounding land, and enhances the condition of groundwater aquifers and water availability. The natural cleaning processes associated with infiltration can improve water quality. This measure can also be known as “Artificial Groundwater Recharge” in the engineering literature.

Mechanisms to restore or enhance natural infiltration capacity include:

(i) surface structures to facilitate/augment recharge (such as soakaways and infiltration basins);

(ii) subsurface indirect recharge – infiltration capacity is enhanced through wells drilled within the unsaturated zone; and

(iii) subsurface direct recharge – infiltration and recharge of the groundwater aquifer is accomplished through wells reaching the saturated zone.

Illustration(s)

Explicative scheme of enhanced infiltration (UK)

Source: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwater/agrar.html

Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
PO5 - Improving quantitative status
Medium
PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration
Medium
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
Low
ES1 - Water storage
Medium
ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Low
ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge
Medium
ES7 - Flood risk reduction
Low
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
Low
ES13 - Geological resources
High
BP1 - Store runoff
Low
BP2 - Slow runoff
Medium
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge
High
BP7 - Increase soil water retention
Medium
BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways
Low
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
Low

Case studies per NWRM