Managing water quality risks for expanding managed aquifer recharge from village ponds: evidence from the Ramganga Basin in India
No hay miniatura disponible
Fecha
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
International Water Management Institute
Resumen
Descripción
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is increasingly promoted across India to address groundwater depletion, including through national initiatives such as Amrit Sarovar and Jal Shakti Abhiyan. This study assesses water quality risks associated with small village pond–based MAR systems in the Ramganga Basin, a major tributary of the Ganges. Nine ponds in Moradabad and Rampur districts, Uttar Pradesh, were monitored during the 2024 and 2025 monsoon seasons. Pond water and nearby groundwater samples were analyzed for major ions, nutrients, trace metals, pesticides and microbial indicators, and compared with Indian drinking water standards.
Results show that pond water is chemically suitable for recharge: dissolved solids, major ions, nitrate, trace metals and pesticides were generally within permissible limits. However, turbidity and faecal coliforms frequently exceeded standards, reflecting sediment mobilization and livestock or domestic wastewater inputs. Groundwater exhibited lower microbial counts, indicating attenuation during infiltration. Comparative analysis with the Uttar Pradesh Floodplain Irrigation pilot highlights that locally fed ponds pose lower chemical risks than large canal-fed systems, though moderate microbial contamination remains a concern. With basic protection measures and routine maintenance, small pond-based MAR can safely enhance groundwater resilience.
Palabras clave
water quality, risk, groundwater recharge, aquifers, villages, ponds