Kumar

My most useful websites:

AQUIFER STORAGE - USDA SCS/NRCS
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/modeling.shtml

AQUIFER STORAGE - USGS
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5038/

AQUIFER STORAGE - ACOE:
www.indygov.org/.../1A9696DF-B27B-4F67-B3FC-

E0160C66A3E7/0/Section3ConceptualGroundwaterModelMay2007.pdf

www.eugris.info/FurtherDescription.asp?Ca=2&Cy=0&T=Modelling&e=62

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5215/

KARST TERRAIN - Multiple sources
http://www.swri.org/4org/d20/Geohydro/karst/pubs.htm

Unfortunately for conscientious water managers here in the USA the senior
management of our agencies has been 'persuaded' by exploitation of
self-interests to discourage comment regarding the recharge of aquifers, to
'keep it at a minimum. This according to lower-level staff responding to my
questions about what I consider negligence in researching/reporting planning
options. They recognize the importance of modifying land surfaces to maximize
infiltration but are frustrated by not being able to focus upon this
appropriately.
The same constraint frustrates new civil engineers entering service in major
cities. Their bosses simply do not want to see groundwater replenishment
investigated or recommended to landowners and concerned citizens. In fact some
were specifically forbidden to discuss this matter with reporters or the general
public.

This baffled me in the late '80s but as I became aware of the depth of private
influence upon civil engineers at every level in public and private employment
the reasons became clear. The primary reasons for blatantly inappropriate
rainwater management:

- Guiding roughly 1/5 of runoff from a major storm to infiltration sites would
allow existing stream/river channels to carry the remainder without flooding.
This would deprive civil engineering firms of their most profitable work load.
It would also nullify the most effective weapon of land speculators for
multiplying the value of cheaply purchased land many times over with public
funds. For this reason land speculators posing as developers commonly pay
lucrative fees to civil engineers for minimial work performed if they testify
falsely about the cost/benefits of onsite retention of rainwater. This
testimony fools politicians and concerned citizens into approving drainage-based
planning/design instead of storage-oriented comprehensive watershed management
plans.

- Keeping aquifers full with Best Management Practices would eliminate need for
the centralized water supply systems that are another major source of income for
the civil engineering profession and a huge body of private profiteers.

- Perennially full aquifers would allow individuals to depend upon wellwater,
greatly reducing the power of land speculators collaborating with public works
agency managers to manipulate land values through selective extension of
waterlines. This is a major weapon of unscrupulous land speculators and a
primary tool for public
works managers to maintain-expand their entrenched bureacracies.

In summaary:

There are many reasons to obstruct-distort-delay adoption of commonsense best
rainwater management practices that turn watersheds into sponges instead of
sheets of teflon. There are few reasons for unprincipled professionals to
accept the recommendations of every capable civil engineer and technician that
retention of rainwater where it falls be made the central focus of land
planning.

Consider that;

- Storing most rainwater underground achieves multiple public benefits at
minimal expense.
- Costs for homesite improvement are significantly reduced by eliminating storm
drains-wide streets-roof gutters-retention/detention ponds.
- Costs for water supply are lower and water quality higher with onsite
retention planning than with centralized drainage and water supply systems.
- Public expenses for energy is much lower with homesite wells because nature's
gravity- based water storage/distribution system is far more efficient - and
reliable - than the pipes and pumps that civil engineers rely upon.
- The cost of 'flood control' (note the oxymoronic character of this term)
decreases rapidly as homesites-woodlands-croplands-pastures are converted to
retain their rainwater onsite. Public works agencies can be progressively
downsized with great savings to taxpayers.

Despite the glaring flaw of not advocating "catching raindrops where they fall"
these websites are a useful tool for persons who let common sense guide their
conceptual planning, are not fooled by tunnel-visioned experts. Smart
modification of land surfaces using simple
grading-berming-terracing-revegetation methods will revive springs and seeps
throughout s watershed by maximizing the infiltration of rainwater. Greater
source flows mean fuller surface reservoirs.

Search "CSIRO groundwater model" but be aware that its principals are also
focused upon dealing with what is available rather than magnifying this supply
with simple, inexpensive, multiply beneficial "best management practices". They
speak of "artificial groundwater recharge" on specific sites instead of the
enhancement of natural infiltration throughout their catchments, revealing
deficiency in their broad view of rainwater management. But they do good work
otherwise.

Jim Marple


----- Original Message -----
From: C. P. Kumar
To: gwrm@...
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 11:14 PM
Subject: [gwrm] Modelling the impact of rainwater harvesting structures


Dear Member,

Can you please refer me to any relevant literature (case
studies/papers/web resources) pertaining to unsaturated and saturated
groundwater flow modelling to study the impact of rainwater
harvesting structures and artificial recharge structures on
groundwater system.

My apologies for cross-postings.

Thanks & Regards
Kumar
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C. P. KUMAR
Scientist 'E1'
National Institute of Hydrology
Jal Vigyan Bhawan
Roorkee - 247667 (Uttarakhand)
INDIA

Web Page : http://www.angelfire.com/nh/cpkumar/
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