Groundwater Recharge Study by Patros, von Bertoldi and Parkin

From Gary Parkin, Associate Professor, School of Environmental Sciences:

Groundwater recharge is a very important natural phenomenon especially in cities such as Guelph that depend on groundwater as the main source of drinking water. Groundwater recharge occurs during rainfall and\or snowmelt events when water passes through soil and enters the groundwater system at the water table. Quantifying the amount of groundwater recharge is critical in terms of short- and long-term water budgeting not just for meeting human demands, but to ensure that streams and wetlands remain viable for plants and wildlife. Groundwater recharge is generally estimated using approximate water budget analyses, but reliable measurement techniques should be developed due to its importance in proper ecosystem management. The goal of this study is to develop a method of measuring groundwater recharge in the field under Ontario climate and soil conditions. To help develop and assess the method, groundwater wells and soil water content sensors have been installed at the Arboretum site. The work is being conducted by Thair Patros, Peter von Bertoldi, and Gary Parkin all from School of Environmental Sciences.