Site selection and feasibility of managed aquifer recharge: A case study of Zydoun plain, Khuzestan province

The Zydoun plain experiences semi-arid climatic conditionو and though groundwater quality is not commonly acceptable with respect to drinking, it is used for irrigation. The water withdrawal of water and its increasing trend would probably put the study area into critical condition to meet demand. The main sources of water supply in the region are Zydoun aquifer and Zoreh River. The better quality of groundwater in the extreme southern part of the plain and lower exploitation expenses are the reasons why farmers prefer to use groundwater rather than river water. As a result of over- exploitation from the Zydoun aquifer in the last years water table has been declined. In order to impede critical situation in the area, a detailed study regarding management of groundwater including physiography, meteoro-logy, hydrology, hydrogeology, hydrochemistry and geomor-phology were undertaken. Based on these investigations, a number of ephemeral streams in the southern part of the plain were recognized to be suitable in term of water quantity and quality to secure a part of water demand of the area. One of the optimum methods for long-term use of these water resources is injection of water into ground and withdrawal in required time. to this end, the collected data, were put together and it was found that the most suitable method of artificial recharge was channel modification. At the end, considering consideration, morphological, permeability condition and water demands in the southern part of the Zydoun plain, eleven sites for execution of water resources management were suggested which would annually augment aquifer storage by over one MCM.