Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction

This chapter explains a better understanding of the river-aquifer systems, the interaction of surface and groundwater, followed by the conjunctive water use, and conjunctive use modeling with some examples and case studies. Surface water and groundwater resources are traditionally managed as independent systems. Effective policies and management practices should be proposed based on a foundation that recognizes that surface water and groundwater are simply two components of a single integrated resource. The source of surface water for groundwater recharge is infiltration of precipitation through the unsaturated zone. The interaction between streams and groundwater and the direction of flow are controlled based on the seasonal conditions. Groundwater interacts with lakes the same way as it interacts with streams. Lakes interact with the groundwater with a much larger surface water and bed area than streams. Surface water operations require reservoirs for water storage in suitable locations.