Estimation of Natural Groundwater Recharge using WTF Method (Case Study: Ardabil Plain Aquifer)

Quantification of the rate of ground water recharge is a basic prerequisite for efficient ground water resource management. The rate of aquifer recharge is one of the most difficult components to measure when evaluating ground water resources. Numerous techniques are used to quantify recharge rate. One of these techniques is water table fluctuation method (WTF). This method is considered to be one of the most romising and attractive due to its ease of use and low cost of application in semiarid areas. Scanlon et al., (2002) review appropriate techniques for quantifying groundwater recharge, of which the water table fluctuation (WTF) method is the most likely candidate based on the available data for the study area. This method is reviewed by Healy and Cook with some recent examples including Moon et al., (2004); Crosbie et al., (2005); Scanlon et al., (2002); Healy and Cook (2002); Moon et al., (2004). Sharda et al., (2006) used the WTF and Chloride mass balance (CMB) methods for assessing groundwater recharge in India. They showed that WTF and CMB methods indicated comparable results for estimation of actual groundwater recharge (Crosbie et al., 2005). In this research, natural recharge of groundwater is studied using the WTF method.