Water Banking – A Practical Guide to Using Artificial Groundwater Recharge

Water banking is the process of storing surplus water to help maintain sufficient water for our needs, to be drawn on when demand requires. Artificial recharge can be defined as the process whereby surface water is transferred underground to be stored in an aquifer. The most common methods used involve injecting water into boreholes or transferring water into spreading basins where it infiltrates the subsurface. Underground water storage is an efficient way to store water because it is not vulnerable to evaporation losses and it is relatively safe from contamination. This booklet provides a practical guide for the appropriate application of artificial recharge in Southern Africa and is intended to assist the reader in the preliminary identification of potential artificial recharge options as method of achieving sustainable water management practices.