ABSTRACT
The Sultanate of Oman, located at the south-eastern corner of the Arabian peninsula is classified within the arid, semi desert climatic region, with a mean annual rainfall of 100 mm / year and high evaporation rate. The Sultanate depends on limited groundwater resources to secure its water requirements. The artificial recharge schemes in Oman are based on the concept of recharge dams which intercept rare torrential floods from intermittent wadis and release them in a controlled way. Since 1985 to date, 17 recharge dams of capacity between 0.13 to 11.5 million m3 have been constructed . This paper discusses the artificial recharge from two selected dams, one in the coastal drainage and the other in the desert drainage system. During their five year operation, 20 to 22 flood events have occurred. The dams have contributed annual recharge of varying magnitude, resulting in an increase in storage and improvement in groundwater quality.
