Performance & Design Evaluation of Different Ground Water Recharge Systems

Abstract

The contribution of the groundwater in freshwater ecosystem of the world is 30.1%. About 90% population in rural areas realized groundwater abstraction to fulfill their domestic needs. Besides all, the Indus basin irrigation system contributes about 27% in groundwater recharging. Rapid urbanization and industrialization decreased recharge surface area and increased water abstraction. Over-exploitation of groundwater is also emerging as a serious problem that affects about 18 % of irrigated areas, as well as many urban areas, threatening the approachability of groundwater. In past, water research Institutes had installed different Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Systems in Lahore & other cities of Pakistan. In, the current study, the performance and design evaluation of the aforementioned system have been carried out by using recharge data. Although the obtained data was not complete but the analyzed data showed positive progress towards raising of water level. The major focus of the research was on the newly constructed RWH at NUST Institute of Civil Engineering (NICE) in the year 2019. During pre- and post-constructed different aspects of design is evaluated and the performance of the system has been determined on data recorded during the calendar year 2019. The recorded data and observed data of respective were matched to H-12 Sector obtained from Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). Data analysis by the SCS Curve Number method showed a very minor difference in the amount of water that has been injected into the aquifer. However, as far as the objective is concerned, different errors have been identified in the design of RWH at NICE and a modified design has been suggested for maximum utilization of the existing design.