How to Choose Recharging Basin Type for a Reliable Artificial Groundwater Recharge with Reclaimed Water

In view of the actual environmental problems (climate change, lack of rain, increase of water consumption, pollution, etc.), it is estimated that about 50% of the world’s population will live in water-stressed regions in the next 5 years. Scientists reported that reuse of treated wastewater is a good solution to contribute in saving environment; in fact, such technic can reduce the evacuated wastewater flows in the nature (sea, rivers, etc.). Thus, besides irrigation with reclaimed water, groundwater artificial recharge with reclaimed water is increasingly applied in the world. Such technics need study that combines multidisciplinary tasks which are selection of suitable sites, hydrogeological modeling, estimation of groundwater hydrodynamics, and water quality after recharge to be successfully applied. Moreover, preparing for artificial recharge is very important to realize good efficiency of such project. The first intermediary between surface and underground is recharging basins. In the world, one can use two famous methods of groundwater recharge which are the injection and infiltration methods. Both technics of recharge have advantages and disadvantages. Injection’s well is widely used for the impermeable soil, and it can rapidly ameliorate the water level and take a little surface; but it should only be used for good quality water, and also in some cases, only clean water should be used. Infiltration’s basin is widely applied in the permeable soil. It can be used for recharging with reclaimed water because of its capability to ameliorate the percolated water quality. However, it needs more maintenance to calibrate its hydraulic conductivity. Use of each one is first of all related to economical criterion. Also, it depends on technical criteria which are the objective of recharge that can be: feeding groundwater for drinking or irrigation, saving soil, minimizing groundwater vulnerability, amelioration of water quality. The aim of this work is to detail the different types of recharging basins, their advantages and disadvantages. This work can be a reference for scientists to select the optimal recharging basins for reliable artificial recharge.