Managed aquifer recharge with various water sources for irrigation and domestic use: a perspective of the Israeli experience

Maintaining/increasing water supply often requires temporal overexploitation and development of new water sources. This chapter describes how various types of managed aquifer recharge within a national integrated water supply system is/was used to achieve different water supply objectives in Israel. We discuss conceptual and technical aspects of recharging carbonate and sandy aquifers through wells with a surface-water source. Advantages and limitations of well injections, water quality, and well design issues, are described. We explore the rational and experience in the use of sandy soils overlaying an aquifer for (1) soil aquifer treatment (SAT) and storage of secondary effluents for irrigation. Especially, the capability of the SAT to bring the effluents to high-quality water is demonstrated; (2) infiltration of ephemeral streams’ floodwater and surplus desalinated seawater for storage and recovery of drinking water.