Groundwater quality considerations related to artificial recharge to the aquifer of the Korinthos Prefecture, Greece

Artificial recharge was employed in a preliminary study as a means to restore the aquifer system of the Korinthos Prefecture and it was concluded that this method can significantly contribute to groundwater quality improvement. Extreme care, however, must be taken as temporary quality deterioration may occur due to washout of the unsaturated zone. Boreholes and dug wells appear most vulnerable to pollution and damage compared to other methods of artificial recharge, since injected water directly reaches the saturated zone. Diluted air and suspended solids content are key parameters for the recharge rate sustainability. A direct relationship between aquifer matrix lithology and the aforementioned factors has been observed. Injection water should be of identical chemical characteristics to resident groundwater. Despite limitations in its application, artificial recharge with water of different hydrochemical characteristics to resident groundwater appeared to be a comparatively low cost, effective remedial measure for aquifer restoration.