Laboratory-Scale Investigation of Recharge Wells for Groundwater Storage

Abstract

Among several strategies proposed to increase groundwater recharge, the application of artificial recharges through wells is more applicable to Philippine setting. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the viability of artificial recharge by injection wells in a flow tank designed to model a confined aquifer system. Two sand aquifer thickness were simulated and the relevant hydrologic parameters were determined. Recharge was applied by injection and flow dynamics were observed to determine storage potential.

In each recharge application, the injected water gradually dispersed in an ellipsoidal shape until the entire porous medium is filled with the recharged water. The shape and behavior of the recharge plume are generally the same for all flow settings, except that the higher the injection rate, the faster it covers the whole aquifer. The rate of travel of injected water through the aquifer decreases with time. Increasing the aquifer thickness reduced the pore water pressure due to decreased confining layer thickness. The piezometric water levels increased during recharge and increases with injection rate implying storage in the aquifer.

Citation:

LUYUN, R., JR., FAJARDO, A., DE LOS REYES, R., BUMANGLAG, C., & LUNA, J. (2019). Laboratory-Scale Investigation of Recharge Wells for Groundwater Storage. Philippine Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, 15(1), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.48196/015.01.2019.02