ABSTRACT
The influence of artificial recharge by a rectangular basin was computed using an algorithm based on finite element method. Ground water head and flux in the underlying aquifer system were calculated for the rectangular basin. In addition, head distributions were also computed for circular, square, hexagonal and triangular recharge basins with equal area and for the same recharge rate as the rectangular basin. A lower ground water mound build up was found for higher perimeter basin shapes. The mass balance for the rectangular basin was checked. Time variant analysis indicated the period of required to stabilise the mound. The build up was initially rapid followed by a much slower growth as steady state was approached. In all simulations the mound height remained below the elevation of the base of the recharge basin, and was assumed to have no impact on infiltration rate.
