ABSTRACT
Clogging of artificial recharge systems is a ubiquitous problem. It consists of porosity or infiltration area diminution induced by inter-related physical, biological and chemical processes, resulting in a decrease of recharge effectiveness. Clogging is a highly site-dependent phenomenon. As a consequence, clogging prevention and redevelopment are commonly addressed by resorting to previously reported practices. However, serious reductions can occur if there is a lack of experience or if special problems exist. Based both on a thorough literature review and on field investigations from certain European countries, several recommendations and operating guidelines are presented. These include identification of basic parameters, preventive and re-development techniques, specifically defined clogging-tools and limitations on a few magnitudes. Such recommendations should represent a good starting point in order to prevent clogging, although it is evident that pilot field tests are always unavoidable when accurate clogging estimates are needed.
