Groundwater is a very widely used resource in the Cheliff-Zahrez watershed. However, following the drought in the basin, farmers of the region has resorted to the intense mobilization of groundwater resources. This work allowed us to study the impact of rainfall reduction on groundwater resources in the basin, by studying groundwater and natural infiltration. We have considered the future scenarios to estimate rainfall for 2025 and 2050 and therefore the (groundwater) recharge at those time horizons. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.