ABSTRACT
This paper illustrates the development of a new tracer method, which can be applied in artificial recharge studies. The method is simple, reliable and sensitive enough to respond to temporal changes. It is employed to assess quantitatively the contribution of artificial recharge ponds (called Percolation Tanks, in India) to augment groundwater resources. The method, based on the mass balance of environmental chloride in the impounded water, in fact, estimates the efficacy of artificial recharge structures. This simple method has been tested in different tanks situated in various geological terrains. Our measurements show that the percolation rate in granite-gneisses is about 30–45%, basalts about 20–30% and sandstones about 60% of the stored water, as “artificial recharge” to groundwater and the rest evaporates. The results when compared with the values from the water balance method, clearly demonstrated the sensitivity of the developed method to the environmental changes.
