Estimation of groundwater recharge from rainfall in Mymensingh region

Dr. M. H. Ali
Principal Scientific Officer, and Head
Agricultural Engineering Division
Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA)
Email: mha_bina@yahoo.com, hossain.ali.bina@gmail.com

Objective
The objective of the study was to estimate the yearly recharge under field condition at North-eastern
region, Mymensingh District of Bangladesh.

Introduction
Groundwater is the main source of water supply to both urban and rural populations as well as to
industry and agriculture. Among various water cycle characteristics, groundwater recharge is the
leading hydrologic parameter determining groundwater resources availability and sustainability.
Sustainable use of groundwater must ensure not only that the future resource is not threatened by
overuse and depletion, but also those natural environments that depend on the resource (Ali 2016,
Abo and Merkel 2014). Accurate estimation of groundwater recharge is extremely important for
proper development and management of the resource. The objective of the study was to quantify the
yearly recharge under field condition using Tracer technique. The recharge was also estimated
following Water Balance approach, and compared with tracer technique.
Materials and Methods
The present study was conducted during 2014, 2015 and 2016, at the experimental field of
Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh (the soil is silt loam, and the sub-surface
strata is of alluvial deposit). The tracer injection area (1.2 m 1.2 m) was separated from the
surrounding soil by polythene sheet up to 0.60 m to ensure the flow of water downward. Chloride
tracer was applied as a pulse at 15cm depth within the soil profile at the initiation of rainy season.
Infiltration of precipitation transports the tracer downward (Piston flow model). The subsurface
distribution of applied tracer was determined at the end of rainy season by digging a trench for
sampling. The vertical distribution of the tracer was used to estimate the velocity, and the recharge
rate was calculated following standard procedure (Chand et al. 2005, Scanlon et al. 2002).
In case of Water Balance approach, a simplified form of water balance equation (Yin et al., 2011) was
used to estimate the recharge, neglecting the change in soil moisture (year to year). The surface runoff
was estimated using a modified form of USDA-SCS method (subtracting the actual
evapotranspiration (ETa) from Rainfall). Daily reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) was
calculated using ET0 Calculator software of FAO. The ETa was calculated considering soil moisture
stress factor (or, dryness factor).
The response of water-table (data taken in nearby observation well, 15 days interval) due to rainfall
was monitored. The yearly fluctuation was about 5.5 m. It is to be mentioned here that the associated
aquifer is not an unconfined/water-table aquifer, but semi-confined / leaky aquifer.
Results and Discussions
The vertical distribution of the tracer concentration is depicted in Fig.1. The recharge rate found using
tracer and water balance method for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 are summarized in Table 1. From
the tracer technique, the average recharge rate for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 was found as 196
mm, 257 mm and 233mm, which were about 10.2%, 12.4 % and 11% of the yearly rainfall,
respectively. From the Water balance method, the average recharge rate for the year 2014, 2015, and
2016 was found as 139 mm, 156 mm and 130mm, which were about 7.3%, 7.5 % and 6.7% of yearly
rainfall, respectively.

The calculated recharge rates in tracer technique represent the time between application and sampling,
which covers recharge period of the year (which is also true for Water Balance method). Sukhija et al.
(1996) reported in a review that in the alluvial tracts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana of India,
recharge rates were found 120-200 mm (12-20% of rainfall) by tracer technique. The varying values
of recharge from natural rainfall reflect differences in the various factors that affect recharge,
including the thickness and hydraulic properties of the underlying unsaturated regolith, the pattern of
rainfall, and environmental conditions such as evapotranspiration. In our study, the recharge rate in
tracer technique is higher than that of Water Balance method. Water Balance approach is an indirect
approach in which the recharge rate depends on the accurate estimation of other components. Hence,
tracer technique can be regarded more reliable than the Water Balance method. Overall, the rate found
in this study (average 228.7 mm/yr) can be regarded as a guide in sustainable groundwater withdrawal
in the area.

Table 1. Recharge rates under different methods and years

Year Recharge amount by

Tracer method Water balance method
2014 196 mm 139 mm
(10.2 % of rainfall) (7.3% of rainfall)
2015 257 mm 155.5 mm
(12.4% of rainfall) (7.5% of rainfall)
2016 233 mm 130 mm
(11 % of rainfall) (6.7 % of rainfall)
 Tracer concentration, ppm (2014)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

0-10
20-30

Depth, cm
40-50
60-70 Peak conc.
80-90
100-110
120-130
140-150

Tracer concentration, ppm (2015)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

0-10

20-30
Depth, cm

40-50

60-70
Peak conc.
80-90

100-110

120-130

Tracer -1, ppm (2016)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

15-30
45-60
Depth, cm

75-90
105-120
Peak conc.
135-150
150-165
180-195

Tracer-2, ppm (2016)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

15-30
45-60
Depth, cm

75-90
105-120
Peak conc.
135-150
150-165
180-195

Fig.1. Concentration profile of chloride in different years

Conclusion

Recharge is a major component of the groundwater system. Quantitative determination of the rate of
natural groundwater recharge is a pre-requisite for efficient groundwater resource management. The
three years average of recharge rate at Mymensingh location was found as 228.7 mm/year under
tracer technique; and 141.7 mm under water balance method.

References
Ali, M.H. (2016). Principles and Practices of Water Resources Development and Management. Nova
Science Publishers, Inc, NY, USA, pp.22-85
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Yin L., Hu G., Huang J, Wen D., Dong J., Wang X., Li H. (2011). Groundwater recharge estimation
in the Ordos Plateau, China: comparison of methods. Hydrogeology J., 19: 1563-1575
Scanlon BR, Healy RW, Cook PG (2002). Choosing appropriate techniques for quantifying
groundwater recharge. Hydrogeol. J. 10: 18-39
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