ABSTRACT
The study is situated in an area where a condominium for 20,000 inhabitants will take place. The most important aquifer of the Federal District of Brazil occurs in the same area. The water supply of this residential area must be managed with groundwater from this source. Paved roads and constructions will seal the recharge area of the aquifer. The quantity that will be extracted from the aquifer demands the total infiltration of the rain. Therefore the rainwater will be captured from the sealed areas and artificially recharged. Two test sites were selected to test the best way of managing recharge. The rainwater is measured and recharged in four different dug wells. The run off water from an experimental roof is measured and after the passing through a filter is directly recharged via a groundwater extraction well. Rain simulation tests show the best results in the dug well with gravel fill and an open end. The test sites demonstrated the feasibility for artificial recharge in a groundwater extraction well, but show that the rate of recharge is limited to the match of runoff derived from the rooves of five houses. As the recharge from the sealed areas is direct, there is less evaporation from the soil than under natural conditions. Under these conditions a groundwater surplus is possible and gives the potential for the system to be sustainable.
