TITLE:
Estimation of Groundwater Recharge Using Water Table Fluctuation Method in Bamako and Surrounding Areas, Mali
AUTHORS:
Ibrahima Konotio, Hamadoun Bokar, Adama Touré
KEYWORDS:
Groundwater Recharge, Specific Yield, Hydrograph, Precipitation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.12 No.9,
September
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: Bamako’s geographic and demographic expansion is sure to increase the need for water, and the slow development of the water supply network seems unable to meet this need. The knowledge of the approximate quantity of water reaching the groundwater is crucial, given the high dependence of this city and its surrounding area on groundwater. The aim of this study is to estimate the average groundwater recharge on a monthly scale, based on measurements taken over a 24-month period by using Water Table Fluctuation (WTF). The monthly recharge values obtained from the 15 piezometers in the study area by using WTF method vary from 1.04 to 38.81 mm with an average value of 9.74 mm. As part of the precipitations, these values represent respectively 1.29%, 48.52% and 12.17% of monthly average precipitation. It appears in this study that despite the piezometers belonging to the same climatic zone, the recharge rate can be different because of many factors such as the thickness of the aquifers, the soil and geology type, the local land cover and land use activities.