Rain Water Harvesting: A New Technology to Recharge the

Aquifer

Md. Mohasin
Sainik School Purulia,West Bengal, India,
e-mail:mmohasin@yahoo.com

Abstract

Water is an essential condition of life. Different sources of water on Earth served mankind in
different civilizations. Now ground water from the subsurface aquifer is a great source of fresh
water which is fulfilling our domestic, industrial and agricultural need to a great extent. Water in
the aquifer is accumulated by the natural process of recharging when the rain water is stagnant
or running over earth’s surface.

But the natural process of recharging is very slow and is not adequate now, as a huge quantity
of water is drawn out from the aquifer for our daily use. As a result the water level of aquifer is
gradually going down and possibility of getting water for all purpose, particularly for Agriculture
from this source is a threat to mankind.

A new technology has been developed to inject sufficient quantity of water at a very fast rate
from the runoff rainwater flowing through the streams and rivers with a great speed for major
period of the year to the aquifer continuously.

Firstly, the turbidity will be filtered and contamination will be removed from the runoff rainwater.
Then the filtered and contamination- free water will be injected to the aquifer through two set of
pipes pushed up to the aquifer. The technology functions with the principle of siphon by the help
of atmospheric pressure forming recharge cone in the aquifer without constant supply of energy.

Speed of recharge depends on the water level of the aquifer, not on the quantity of water
available on the surface of the earth. A significant quantity of water will recharge the aquifer with
this process continuously and spread through out it obeying the principle of ground water
movement.

Thus the greatest source of fresh and easy available water will be recharged sufficiently for
future use.

Introduction
Water is life. Life on Earth was not possible and not possible to survive without water. Although
a huge quantity of water is available on Earth but a little percentage of it is usable for fulfilling
our daily needs in domestic, Industrial and Agricultural use. At present the major portion of our
need is being fulfilled by the water taken out from the aquifer and as a result the level of
underground water table is gradually decreasing and the possibility of getting water from that
source is drastically decreasing. Near future, the aquifer will not be able to supply the adequate
quantity of fresh water for us which is a great threat to the mankind to sustain on Earth.

In these circumstances, it is absolutely necessary to recharge the aquifer by the run off rain
water available during rainy season (June to October) so that the possibility of obtaining water
from that source will increase to fulfill our need in future.

Problems for Decreasing Water Level of the Aquifer

Unconsolidated rocks chiefly gravel and sand constitute aquifer under the surface of the Earth
and that aquifer extended over a vast area at different depths in different places. In rainy

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season, when the surface of the earth is full of water and water flow through the streams and
rivers, then by natural process of seeping, the water reaches the underground layers.

90% of the rural population depends on ground water to quench their thirst and 70% of ground
water is used in agriculture now. But due to decrease of water level, the indigenous process of
lifting water from aquifer such as dug wells, single pipe tube wells and short height fitted cylinder
tube wells for fresh drinking water and big dug wells, shallow tube wells for agriculture will not
be able to fulfill our necessity further. In lieu of them, we are now depending on deep tube wells,
water purifying projects from river water spending millions of rupees and constructing high water
tanks fitted with huge pipe lines, wasting huge valuable land surface, constant and continuous
expenditure of maintaining them with high consumption of electricity.

Days are not far, when the expenditure for obtaining the water supply for fulfilling fresh drinking,
domestic and agricultural need will be beyond economical level, particularly the developing
country like us.

Secondly, the water level is decreasing in such a way that the possibility of getting water from
the aquifer is decreasing day by day and the portion of population who are fully dependent on
the said water independently, will have to suffer up to the extent of existence in their present
habitat in future.

Thirdly, to keep the balance in nature the role of plants in the ecosystem will also be at a stake
due to gradual decreasing of moisture in the subsoil for gradual decreasing of water level in the
aquifer. It will also be the cause of hamper of natural growth of the vegetation. The necessity of
irrigation will be more for almost all the agricultural production which incurred more expenditure
and will hamper the economic growth of the population depending on it as well as economic
growth of the country.

Fourthly, when the water level was in its normal condition due to sufficient recharge by natural
process and the amount of water taken out was in balance and the excess water recharged in
aquifer would have been flowing out through the river bed, down places likes streams etc. As a
result, the water through rivers and streams continued to flow through out the year which could
have supply the water for all purposes to fulfill the need of the population of the surroundings
causing growth of civilization on its sides.

Now-a-days, due to discontinuation of flowing water from the above sources, the river beds
gathered with huge dry sands causing increased intensity of flood.

Fifthly, it is a fact that a huge number of people are suffering from Arsenic contamination in
different parts of the world and it is contaminated through drinking water taken out from the
aquifer. It is also a fact that the water taken out from aquifer for drinking purpose is dissolving a
number of minerals along with Arsenic in a very dilute condition. When more amount of water is
taken out from the aquifer the concentration of Arsenic is becoming more and it is exceeding
tolerance level of human consumption. As a result, the drinking water obtained from aquifer
becoming the cause of health hazards. Govt. is bearing more expenses both for treatment and
for the fulfillment of the need of fresh drinking water for the population of those areas.

Lastly, if the process of taking out water from the aquifer is continuing and if it is not arrange to
recharge to make a balance in it, days are not far when the most easy, safe and popular
process of obtaining fresh water will be omitted. The people have to depend on the supply water
arranged by the Govt. involving a heavy expenditure or purchasing bottled water with their hard
earned money like people of the deserted countries. At the same time the water for agriculture
from aquifer will not be available, so the income from agriculture of the people will be decreased
and the agricultural production will be hampered.

Causes of Water Level Decreasing

Water accumulated in the aquifer is the deposition of seeping water by the natural process in
the underground sand layers, when the water is being stagnated or flowing over the surface of
the earth. Groundwater exploitation in India has increased with leaps and bounds and the

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number of shallow wells also has increased rapidly over the last fifty years. The growths of
groundwater abstraction structures from 1950 to 1990 clearly depict the increasing use of
groundwater utilization in domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors. As per the statistics, the
number of dug wells increased from 38.6 lakhs (1951) to 94.9 lakhs (1990) and the shallow tube
wells from 3000 (1951) to 47.5 lakhs (1990) (Muralidharan and Athavale, 1998) and the number
of submersible pump and deep tube well till today is huge. Natural recharge measurements
carried out in about 20 river basins, well distributed over the various climatic and geomorphic
zones obtaining in the country, suggest that only about 5 to 10 percent of the seasonal rainfall is
contributed as annual recharge in the peninsular hard rock regions, whereas in the alluvial
areas that figure is about 15 to 20 percent of the rainfall (Athavale et al 1992). As a result, much
of the rain water floods out and many areas in the country are showing signs of over exploitation
due to withdrawal of groundwater in excess of the annual input through recharge. This has
created lowering of water table, drying of wells and deterioration in groundwater quality.

As a result of the created deficit, the water level is gradually going down from the surface of the
Earth.

The Sources of Extra Water to be Pushed in the Aquifer

Under the earth a huge area is covered by the aquifer and it exist in different depths in different
places. The capacity of holding water of the aquifer is more than 40 times of the usable surface
water on earth. So the water can be stored in that reservoir for our future use according to our
needs.

In rainy season (June to October), sufficient rainfall occurs in most parts of our country and the
maximum portion of the rain water usually run off to sea through streams and rivers.

Table:1 Average Monsoon Runoff through the Rivers (km3/year)

Rivers Indus Ganga Brahm Godavari Krishna Kavery Mahanadi Narmad

a -a
-putra
AMR 58.60 401.30 477.50 107.10 61.00 18.90 60.20 36.90

Brahu Tapi & Tadri & Subarna Mahi Luni Penner Penner & Penner &
-mani Tadri Khumari -rekha Mahanadi K.Kumari
32.60 96.50 97.80 9.70 10.70 13.60 6.20 15.30 16.00

Source: Ministry of Water Resource(MOWR), 1999

From those sources the run off rain water could be injected to the aquifer by the help of the
developed technology to recharge aquifer quickly and sufficiently.

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Technology to Inject Runoff Rain Water to the Aquifer

Figure 1. Diagram of the technology for recharging the aquifer

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Working principle of the technology

Siphon and its working principle is known to us. With the help of siphon, the liquid kept in the
higher altitude can be shifted easily to the lower altitude. At present, the water level is 20m(approx)
at the end of summer or in the beginning of rainy season. So the difference of altitude of the water
on the surface of the earth from the runoff source to the water level of the groundwater is 20m.
Using the working principle of siphon along with the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer
ingredients, excess run off rain water available on earth surface can be send through pipes to the
under ground layers. When the water reaches to the layers, it immediately spread in all the
directions with the radial flow by the pressure of water column exerted on the water table. As a
result, by the process of siphon, the run off surface water will start entering to the aquifer by the
pressure of water column continuously with a high speed forming a recharge cone. The amount of
pressure created by the Potential Energy of Water on the Surface when water level is 20m =
(mgh) = 103kg*10m/sec2*20m= 2*105 Joule.

The rate of recharge in confined and unconfined Aquifer will be as follows:

Figure 2. Recharge cone formation using siphon in confined aquifer

Figure 3. Recharge cone formation using siphon in unconfined aquifer

By the effect of siphon the vertex of the recharge cone formed at the surface of the earth and rate
of recharge will obey the following equations:

Qr = 2πKb (hw – h0) / In (r0 / rw) (1)

Qr = πK(hw2 – h02) / In (r0 / rw) (2)

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For confined and unconfined aquifer respectively and the symbols are identified in the figures.

From the above equations it is clear that the rate of recharge will increase sufficiently as hw , the
height of the recharged water column increased by the effect of siphon. Although r0 , the radius of
the base of the recharge cone will increase but In (r0 / rw ) will increase in very small quantity.
Volume of the water recharge per hour = 150m3 (with the diameter of intake tube is 3 inch i.e.,
7.5cm) (minimum intake of unit hydraulic conductivity i.e. the medium of aquifer with minimum
porosity).

The uniqueness of this technology is that the water will inject in the aquifer by the pressure of the
water column on the water table of the aquifer not by the pressure of the surface flow of the water
and once it starts working, will continue up to when the water will be available on the surface of
the earth without any recurring expenditure and without recurring power consumption for it. Also,
at any place the run off rain water is available, can be injected to the aquifer which will spread
throughout the area of the aquifer-- thus recharge it finally, till the water level comes up to the
level of the surface water.

In this process, sending excess volume of water to the aquifer could possible to preserve
sufficient amount of water to fulfill our need in future.

Working procedure of the technology

The run off rain water available are muddy, contaminated with industrial and agricultural waste i.e.
chemical fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides etc. It is therefore essential to take at most
precaution before using this technology to inject water from run off rain water.

The place of implementation of the technology should be chosen where from a huge volume of
run-off rain water is flowing. The huge volume of run-off rain water source will have less
percentage of contamination and is possible to purify easily.

To remove the suspended particles and contamination from runoff water the following technology
to be used:

Figure 4. Sedimentation, filtration & decontamination

Required quantity of run-off surface water will be taken to sedimentation chamber and adopting
the process of sedimentation by adding Alum to reduce turbidity/ mud of the water.

Next chlorine treatment will be done with less turbid water properly to complete de-germination
along with other contaminations. After decreasing the turbidity, the water will be arranged to go
through the rapid vertical gravitational filter to get fresh and non contaminated water. Thus filtered
water obtained will be stored in a chamber and will be allowed to go to the aquifer with the help of
the proposed technology after a proper laboratory testing confirming that there is no

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contamination of the water going to the aquifer. The recharging technology using the principle of
Siphon is as under:-

Figure 5. Recharge shaft of the technology

The physical, chemical and biological quality of recharge water affects the selection of recharge
methods. Suspended solids in recharge water causes clogging. It is also important that the
recharge water be chemically compatible with the aquifer material through which it flows and the
naturally occurring groundwater to avoid chemical reactions that would reduce the aquifer
porosity and recharge capacity. Similarly, biological agents such as algae and bacteria can
cause clogging of infiltration surfaces and wells, limiting the recharge capacity. Considering the
above facts, first part of the technology developed is to remove all such possibilities and to get
portable water to be injected in the aquifer.

Using siphon, quantity of recharge water is coming down to the aquifer as a column of water
with an energy of 2*105 Joule which helps the water in vertical flow to change into lateral flow
without disturbing the aquifer and without any air contact as shown in the figure 5. Whereas
without using siphon, recharge water dropped down from the point of inflow to the water level of
the aquifer which create an agitation on the aquifer components mixing air with recharge water
causing a turbulent in the intake mouth of aquifer and reduce the rate of recharge.

Total volume of water recharge aquifer= 150m3*24*180= 6.48*105 m3 (assuming runoff water
available for six months & with the diameter of intake tube is 3 inch i.e., 7.62cm)

Total cost of the Technology= Rs15 lakhs(approx).

As a result, the aquifer will be recharged with a huge quantity of fresh water and the greatest
problem of 21st century will be solved.

Conclusion
The following advantages will be obtained from the technology:-
Run off rain water can be stored in the underground natural reservoir without covering any part of
the land surface, heavy recurring expenditure and constant expense of energy for it.

Easy available fresh drinking water will be obtained by the indigenous system of lifting from the
aquifer.

Sufficient water for Agricultural and Industrial use will be available at any time and any place of
the aquifer.

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Eradication the arsenic contamination problem in drinking water

Arsenic contamination in ground water is due to inorganic arsenic compounds—Trivalent Arsenite

[As(III)] and Pentavalent Arsenate [As(V)] present in the underground Strata in the aquifer. When
much water is taken out the water level is going down and the strata with soluble inorganic
Arsenic Compounds increasing the concentration of solute for abstraction cone formation causing
toxic and becoming poison. Other insoluble arsenic compounds are coming in contact with air and
reacts with oxygen making oxidized compound of the arsenic which are mostly soluble in water
and toxic. When the aquifer is naturally recharged in the rainy season from the surface water
dissolving the soluble arsenic oxide compounds reaching to the aquifer and increasing the
concentration of toxic arsenic in ground water and exceeds the permissible limit specified by WHO
and National Guideline.
Sufficient recharge of aquifer will dilute the concentration of water soluble toxic arsenic
compounds in the groundwater and will be within the permissible limit of human consumption.
Finally it will help to remove the arsenic contamination in groundwater.

It is capable of decreasing the intensity of the flood.

It will help to remove the stagnated rain/flood water from the low land.

It will help rivers and streams to get back its flow through out the year.

It will help to increase the sub-soil moisture for the growth of the flora.
Producing electricity without any recurring expenditure

Figure 6. Electricity generation structure

Total energy can be obtained from P.E. of the water deposited on the surface of the earth =K.E. of
the water on the water table (assuming 150m3 of water will be injected in the aquifer per hour) = 2
* 105 * 150 Joule/hr = (2 * 105 * 150) / 36 * 105 kWh
= 8.33 kWh (approx)

Finally, this technology will help to sustain the mankind on Earth and the main problem of 21st.
century could be solved.

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References
Athavale et al 1992.
Daksinnamurthi, C., Michael, A.M. and Shri Mohan (1973).
Water Resource of India and theirUtilization in Agriculture.
Water Technology Centre, IARI, New Delhi.
Michael, A.M. (1983). Irrigation: Theory and Practice. Vikash Publishing House, New Delhi.
Ministry of Water Resource, India, 1999
Murulidharan and Athavale, 1998.
Ragava Rao, K.V., Raju, T.S. and Rameson, V. (1969).
An estimate of Ground Water potential of India – first approximation. Proc. Symp.
On Soil and Water Manage; Hissar March, 1969.
Todd, D.K. (2006).
Ground Water Hydrology, Second edition WILEY INDIA, P-26, 28, 36,37,38,69,467,
468.

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