Groundwater Recharge with Treated Wastewater

Artificial recharge of aquifers is a proven method for conservation of groundwater resources. The use of open basins, stream channels, and spray irrigation with present technology is possible with a typical secondary effluent, but recharge through wells requires wastewater of higher quality. Very slight turbidity and bacterial growths may lead to rapid clogging of recharge wells. Recharge of a fine- or medium-grained aquifer does not seem to lead to problems caused by pathogenic bacteria or viruses if the water travels several hundred feet and the aquifer is not fissured. Water quality improvement may also be effected by physical and biological processes in the soil.