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Study on Abstraction-Induced Recharge as an Adaptation Response to Climate Variation for Shallow Aquifer in Bangladesh
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  • Md. Saiful Islam,
  • Tanjila Akhter,
  • Rashed Zzaman,
  • Sara Nowreen
Md. Saiful Islam
Student
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Tanjila Akhter
Assistant Professor
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Rashed Zzaman
Graduate Student
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Sara Nowreen
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

The significance of groundwater is likely to grow in the coming years because of the need to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change. Adaptive capacity becomes important as more frequent and intense rainfall variability would quickly increase the possibility of large reduction in the amount of sustainable surface water supplies while aquifers will be affected considerably more slowly by anticipated climate change. On the other hand, the combined effects of population growth, irrigation demand, and climate change will continue to put pressure on the groundwater resource in the future. Against this backdrop, the abstraction-induced recharge (AI-R) concept should be regarded as a future adaptation option for some likely sites in Bangladesh to solve unmet water concerns. The inherent concept of the AI-R is that the sub-surface storage can rapidly be filled during the wet season and consume during the following dry season. Variable thickness in subsurface geology, aquifer system and inconsistent response to monsoon rainfall as well as flooding made Bangladesh incompatible for large basin wide AI-R concept. As a result, this research thoroughly observed the reaction to rainfall events, aquifer condition, historical water level and other factors in two case studies that have the potential to be used in AI-R operations. High-resolution (hourly) in-situ recordings of co-located groundwater level and rainfall data are compared to low-frequency (daily rainfall and weekly groundwater level) observations in this study. Historical groundwater conditions, as well as rapid groundwater response to both diffuse and concentrated recharge, were found to be favorable to AI-R at one place (Bhuapur, Ishwarganj). Nearby ponds which store huge monsoon water and have low aquitard thickness can play potential role in induced recharge in this place. On the other place (Bochaganj, Dinajpur), groundwater response to rainfall is complicated and groundwater level shows decreasing trend in recent years which can get worsen if AI-R concept is implemented here. So, this type of fine resolution field inquiry is at the very least need to be observed on possible AI-R piloting locations. Multi-isotope studies are also advised for assessing long-term effects.