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Restoration of natural infiltration to groundwater

Alternative Label
  • Managed Aquifer Recharge
Code
N13
Year of Issue
2025
Sponge function(s)
Slow down runoff
Temporary store runoff
Sector
Hydro Morphology
Summary

Groundwater is the part of infiltrated water which composes the water resource for population and human activities.  Previous modifications of the landscape have reduced the infiltration capacity of many European soils, thereby limiting the rate at which precipitation is able to infiltrate and recharge groundwater aquifers. Restoration of natural infiltration to groundwater enables a lowering of run-off from surrounding land, and enhances the condition of groundwater aquifers and water availability. The natural cleaning processes associated with infiltration can improve water quality. This measure can also be known as “Artificial Groundwater Recharge” in the engineering literature.  


Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) builds upon these principles by intentional storing and recharge of water into aquifers for later recovery or environmental benefits. MAR is a versatile technology that uses water from various sources—such as rivers, treated effluent, stormwater, or rainwater—and stores it in aquifers where natural processes like filtration and biodegradation help improve its quality. It is often combined with engineered treatment systems and is applied for drinking water supply, industrial processing, irrigation, and sustaining groundwater-dependent ecosystems with additional attention to environmental sustainability compare to the Artificial Groundwater recharge concept. Some literature indeed classifies MAR as nature-based solution.


Mechanisms to restore or enhance natural infiltration capacity include: 
(i)    surface structures to facilitate/augment recharge (such as soakaways and infiltration basins); 
(ii)    subsurface indirect recharge – infiltration capacity is enhanced through wells drilled within the unsaturated zone; and 
(iii)    subsurface direct recharge – infiltration and recharge of the groundwater aquifer is accomplished through wells reaching the saturated zone. 

Illustration(s)

Explicative scheme of enhanced infiltration (UK)

Source: HydrateLife

Benefit Table