Assessment of artificial groundwater recharge potential through estimation of permeability values from infiltration and aquifer tests in unconsolidated alluvial formations in coastal areas

Twenty infiltration tests and 12 pumping tests were carried out in Wadi Baysh in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The objective of the study was to assess the soil and aquifer permeability from the point of view of artificial groundwater recharge. Infiltration tests showed that the soil permeability values ranged from 0.58 to 37.15 m/day and showed good recharge potential. The analysis of the pumping tests showed that the aquifer permeability values ranged from 2.6 to 57.4 m/day and were approximately within the same range as those obtained from infiltration tests. Monitoring of groundwater levels in a few wells before and 1 month after a heavy rainfall event in August 2016 shows an average increase of 2.25 m in the groundwater levels which substantiates the recharge rates obtained from infiltration and pumping tests. Average annual groundwater recharge for the area calculated from water table fluctuation method is 72.08 mm/year indicating that the lower reaches of Wadi Baysh catchment has good potential for groundwater recharge and if managed properly can help in tackling the problem of groundwater depletion due to excessive pumping.