Groundwater recharge via deep boreholes in the Patras Industrial Area aquifer system (NW Peloponnesus, Greece)

The economic development of the Patras Industrial Area is influenced by both the availability and the seasonal variability of water resources. Groundwater from the deep confined aquifer is the major source of water for the industries located in this area. During the 1980s, over-pumping combined with prolonged dry periods has lowered the groundwater level. The paper presents the results of groundwater recharge testing in the confined aquifer using three deep boreholes and injection rates ranging from 30.5 to 63.5 m3/h. The groundwater level rose by more than 3.5 m in the recharge boreholes and 1 m in those 0.5 km away. The field experiments provided useful guidance on the proper planning of pilot tests, data monitoring and analysis, which can also be applied to other regions with similar conditions. Based on the hydrogeological conditions a groundwater flow model was successfully used to predict the aquifer system response. The work confirms that aquifer recharge is an environmentally acceptable solution, as part of an integral water resources management plan.