1. Groundwater Recharge and Water Management in Israel
Adi Tal
Israel Hydrological Service
Water authority
Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water
International seminar in groundwater recharge
July 14th 2017, Santiago, Chile

2. Precipitation and main natural water resources
Rain precipitation map (mm/year)
Main water resources
Precipitation (mm)
Tel Aviv
Mediterranean
sea
Rainy season between October to April
Mediterranean
sea N

3. Main Water Supply System (1964)
Haifa
Saphir station
Eshkol reservoir
Sea of Galilee
(Kinneret)
National carrier
108”
Tel Aviv
Jerusalem
The carrier diverted the water directly to the consumption areas. During the rainy season also for groundwater recharge into the coastal aquifer
National carrier - length section
National carrier - length section
-200
+200
108”
Sea of Galilee

4. Abandoned sandstone quarry
1970s: Time when most groundwater recharge projects were developed
Purpose of recharge
Provide storage for the sea of Galili water
Raise groundwater level in the coastal aquifer
Abandoned sandstone quarry
Recharge facilities
Water Volumes Recharge (mcm/year)
Number of
Wells/sites
Water source
Recharge type 50
100
Sea of Galili
Injection wells 30 5
Recharge basins

5. Available water in the Sea of Galili (mcm)
Decrease in available water in the Sea of Galili
This source could no longer provide water for recharge.
since 1994, the recharge of Sea of Galili water was almost stopped.

6. Recharge from Rainfall AVERGE: 1,336 MCM , MEDIAN: 1202, STD: 456 MCM
along years:
AVERGE: 1,336 MCM , MEDIAN: 1202, STD: 456 MCM
Min. : 710 MCM Max. : 2,929 MCM
MCM

7. Natural water storage above permitted level (mcm)
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
MCM
750
500
250
-250
-500
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Decrease in the storage of the natural water below its permitted level

8. Sea Water Desalination
The reduction in rainfall led to the development of desalination plants
Production 2009
(127mcm)
Hadera
Desalinated water is an important water resource in Israel.
Production 2013
(150mcm)
Sorek
Production 2007
(90)
In the last 4 years, the recharge from rain has been the lowest measured.
Palmachim
Production 2015
(100)
Ashdod
(120mcm)
Ashkelon
Production 2005
Overall until 2015 = 600 MCM/Y
Until 2020 = 750 MCM/Y

9. Israel Water Resource Development 1958 - 2014
Total Water Supplied
Natural water
Effluent
Desalinated
Average natural water recharge
Israel Water Resource Development
Until 1988 the natural water were the only water resource.
By developing a new water resource we succeeded to decrease the natural water supply to its sustainable value.

10. The Israeli experience in groundwater recharge
Water table
Area
(kmr)
Width (km)
Storage (mcm)
Depth to water table (m)
thickness
(m)
Porosity
Hydraulic conductivity
(m/day)
1800 13
500
10 -50
0.1 – 0.2
10 -20
The Coastal aquifer is built of calcareous sandstone and sand with intermediate clay layers
The Coastal Aquifer is an excellent area for recharge basins

11. Groundwater recharge types
The Israeli experience in groundwater recharge
Groundwater recharge types
Effluent - Soil Aquifer Treatment + Store
Storm runoff recharge
Spreading basins in abandoned sandstone quarries
Injection Wells

12. Reuse of all sewage effluents in Dan Region (Greater Tel Aviv)
Wastewater Treatment plant (Shafdan) and the pipeline to Negev
של חברת מקורות בישראל
ה ג ל י ל
7 מליון קוב
ברכת רם
בניאס
יוסיפון
מאגר
כפר גלעדי
קרית שמונה
רמת הגולן
מאגר עינן
תחנת
2.5 מיליון קוב
מאגר דלתון
פינה
ראש
צפת
נהריה
ספיר
מאגר דמון
תחנת כורסי
עכו שפרעם
קריות
כרמיאל
ברכות שפרעם
תחנת צלמון
טבריה
גולני
נצרת
140+
מאגר אשכול
חיפה
כ נ ר ת
עפולה
תחנת האון
מיצר
מים לירדן
בר' בית זרע
סכר דגניה
תחנת דגניה
בית שאן
בר' ידעיה
תח' שמשית
הרי אפרים
מנהרת מנשה
מאגר תשלובת הקישון 12 מלמ"ק
אורן חדרה
כפר ברור
מחולה
תחנת חוף הכרמל
תעלת המים הפתוחה
האחזיות שומרון
שומרון
קולחי נתניה
תחנת ראש העין
תחנת נוה ירק
האחזויות שומרון
מחנה חורון
צומת תפוח
שילה
אריאל
בקעתהירדן
מעלה אפרים
תל אביב יפו
תחנת ויסות T.T.A
ראשל"צ
מפעל השפד"ן
פ"ת
חולון בת ים
תחנת טל
תח' דניאל
תח' אחיסמך
תח' לטרון
מאגר איילון
בר' פדיה
ירושלים
תח' חולדה
תח' כ.אוריה
תח' שואבה
תח' הלר
תח' דוד
תח' כסלון
גוש עציון
תח' גבעות
תח' עגור 7
קרית גת
קו שלישי לנגב "70 מים מושבים
בית לחם
קליה
מצפה שלם
קרית ארבע חברון
אשקלון
י ם ה מ ל ח
קו ירקון מערבי
מאגר נהורה
בר ספיח
בר' אחוזים
אמציה
גל און
בר' מחצבה
צומת זוהר
בר' נגה
תח' שמחה
מאגר מפסח
בר' תקומה א' ב'
באר שבע
דימונה
ירוחם
ה נ ג ב
לוציפר
בר' ותח' שוקת
בר' תפוח
בר' ותח' יעלים
ערד
בר' ערד
חמי זוהר
מי שתיה למלונות ים המלח
תח' נבטים
מאגר לב הנגב
בר ערעור
תח' אברהם
בר' מבטחים
בר' צאלים
מאגר צאלים
בר' באר שבע
קד' ניצנה (מליחים)
קד' למים מליחים
תח' חלוצה
בר' ותח' רביבים
משאבי שדה
תח' סדום
קד' אפעה
קד' מכתש קטן למים מליחים
נאות הכיכר
בר' שבטה
שדה בוקר
בר' שדה בוקר
בר' אורון
עידן
עין יהב
צופר
מצפה רמון
הר חריף
פארן
קד' פארן
בר' תח' פארן
בר' ציחור
בר' סיירים
בר' צוקי עובדה
יטבתה
תח' נחושתן
סבחה מתקן התפלת מים מליחים לאילת
מים מליחים
ערבה
גרופית
קטורה
מפעל נחלי מנשה לתפיסת מי שטפונות והחדרתם למי תהום
תח' אלמוג
בר' ותח' גרנות
באר אורה
מערכת המים
הארצית
מפת מפעלי המים
מקרא
המוביל הארצי
קו מים לשתיה
מים להשקייה - קולחין
ישובים
מאגר מים שפירים
בריכות מים שפירים
תחנת שאיבה מים שפירים
תחנת מים מושבים
מאגר מים מושבים
בריכות מים מושבים
מתקן התפלה
קדוחי מים מליחים
אילת
קו ירקון מזרחי
נתניה
בר' שיזפון
יהל
בר' ותח' שיטה
מפעל זמר
תח' מאגר נשר
Sewage from the Greater Tel Aviv area – 125 MCM/Y
Large-scale WWTP – secondary treatment quality
Six infiltration fields (soil aquifer treatment + store)
Over 150 production and monitoring wells (quality permitted for “occasional” drinking)
90 KM pipeline to Negev
32 pumping stations, operational storages (0.51MCM) and seasonal storages (17.2 MCM)
National Water Greed 12

13. Effluent recharge
Scheme of the SAT treatment
The unsaturated zone acts as a huge filter that performs physical, chemical and biological treatment

14. Effluent recharge
General map of the recharge area
Fresh water wells

15. Yearly recharge and recovery of effluents
Effluent recharge
Yearly recharge and recovery of effluents

16. Effluent recharge
Effluent expansion map calculated according to concentrations of chloride and carbamazepine (CBZ)
Generic drug

17. Numerical model prediction for effluents expansion
Effluent recharge
Numerical model prediction for effluents expansion

18. Effluent recharge

19. Effluent recharge

20. Effluent recharge
Decrease in Infiltration rate as a result of accumulation of organic material on land cover.

21. Effluent recharge

22. Effluent recharge
Cultivation and ventilation of the infiltration field between the floods

23. Effluent recharge

24. Effluent recharge
With proper operation and maintenance, the SAT system should be considered extremely attractive for effluent reclamation and storage.

25. storm runoff recharge in Menashe basin
Taninim Dam.
dam
Water channel
Dam
Recharge Basin
Detention reservoir
1 km
Recharge basin located in a dune area above the coastal aquifer.
infiltration Basin
The water arrived to detention reservoir for 2-3 days, until the Turbidity decreased below 50 NTU

26. Storm runoff recharge in Menashe basin
Recharge Basin
Calcareous sandstone
Calcareous sandstone
sand
Sand silt
Clay 4
Geological section of the coastal aquifer
Terrestrial Clay 8
Distance (km)
Level
(m) 40
-80
-140

27. Storm runoff recharge in Menashe basin
Sampling stations for water quality
Sampling stations
Organic
Inorganic
Pesticides
High Simazine: Pesticides used in agriculture in this area
First storm is highly contaminated as a result of the accumulation of contaminants in the area during the dry season

28. Menashe storm runoff recharge
Data available in real time on the computer screen
Telemetric system
Monitoring level device
Observation well +8 -4 +4
1/10/2014
19/6/2017
Water level
Level (m)
PVC 2”
0.3 mm
The small increase in water level indicates the low amount of recharge due to low rainfall

29. storm runoff recharge in Menashe basin
Water channel
Technical details
670,000 m2 (3 mcm)
Detention basin area
530,000 m2
Infiltration basin area
30,000 m3/hour
Maximum flow in water channel
13 mcm/year
Average recharge
30 mcm/year
Maximum recharge
15 m
Average depth to water table
25 mcm
Storage
3500 m3/hour
Production capacity
1.2 m/day
Initial Infiltration rate
0.3 m/day
Infiltration rate, end of rainy season 30 20 10
100
1500
Level (m)
Distance (m)
October 1994
April 1995
After rainy season, water must be pumped to prepare storage volume for the next rainy season
Infiltration rate decreased as result of crust cover on the surface. Usually the crust brakes naturally during the dry season.
After a very rainy season water level gets close to the ground

30. Grumusol and Rendezine soil cover
Storm runoff recharge in Shiqma basin
Floodwater usually contains very high sediment load, 20,000 ppm.
The water detained in the diversion reservoir, until the sediment load decreases to 50 NTU, usually after 3-5 days.
Recharged water must be pumped in order to prevent losses due to flow to the sea.
Technical details
90 kmr
Watershed area
300 mm
Average precipitation
3 mcm/year
Average recharge
7,500 – 15,000 m3/hour
Recharge rate
0.7 m/d
Initial Infiltration rate
0.1 m/d
Infiltration rate after continues recharge
Sand dune cover
Diversion reservoir
Recharge reservoir
Shiqma river basin
Sea
Recharge
reservoir
Pumping wells
Diversion reservoir
Grumusol and Rendezine soil cover
Shiqma river
During the time, the diversion reservoir is filled with alluvium. Every few years it is necessary to remove the alluvium deposits.

31. Sensitivity to salinization as a result of seawater intrusion
Storm runoff recharge in Shiqma basin
Sensitivity to salinization as a result of seawater intrusion
Telemetric system
Subsurface Monitoring Device (SMD)
Interface area
Salt water
Fresh water

32. Storm runoff recharge in Shiqma basin
SMD cable
Monitoring well
SMD box

33. Changes in conductivity value (salinity) in the monitoring well
Storm runoff recharge in Shiqma basin
Changes in conductivity value (salinity) in the monitoring well

34. High load of organic matter . Good platform for biological activity.
Recharge of Sea of Galilee water into the Coastal Aquifer
The project was stopped 20 years ago
High load of organic matter . Good platform for biological activity.

35. \ Recharge of the Sea of Galili water in abandoned sandstone quarry
Schematic figure of changes in infiltration rate during the time \
The drop of the recharge rates was attributed to two reasons:
High load of organic matter.
Settling of silt and clay particles on the bottom of the ponds, originated from the side slopes of the ponds.

36. Monthly Recharge in Single-Purpose wells
Recharge in injection wells
Types of injection wells
Single-Purpose wells (unequipped) : 40 wells
Dual – Purpose wells : 60 wells
In single-purpose wells :
Recharge rates decrease gradually during the recharge period, mainly in wells being recharged with sea of Galili water. This is due to biological activity and the development of biofouling on well screen.
Monthly Recharge in Single-Purpose wells
Sea of Galili water
Mounting aquifer
Well Development
In dual-purpose wells:
Infiltration rate decreased only slightly.
Water pump was contaminated with high content of coliform bacteria and high turbidity due the high content of the organic matter in the Sea of Galili water.
Broken - continuous

37. Injection wells are sensitive to clogging
Recharge in Injection wells
Injection wells are sensitive to clogging
The failure of some of the injection wells, was primarily because the quality of the water that was injected (Sea of Galili water with high load of organic matter )
Causes for clogging the injection wells
At the time of drilling: Mud drilling residues on the screen walls (only by drilling methods using mud such as Reverse Circulation)
At the time of injection: Penetration of air bubbles into the rock pores and blocking some of the flow paths
During operation:
Biological activity - accumulation of microorganisms on the screen wall (biofouling).
High content of suspended solids.
Chemical sedimentation of minerals on the screen wall.
All these factors should be taken very seriously in injection wells planning, which are supposed to work for many years.

38. Summary
Recharge is an excellent way to store water and to increase the amount of available water.
With proper operation and maintenance, the SAT system should be considered an extremely attractive for effluent reclamation and storage.
High organic load in the recharged water is causing decrease in infiltration rate due to accumulation of microorganisms on the screen wall (biofouling).
Settling of silt and clay particles on the bottom of the ponds decreases recharge rates.
Infiltration rate is decreasing during the recharge season. Flooding and drying regime and soil cultivation between the floods increase the infiltration rate.
Injection wells are sensitive to clogging. The drilling, injection and operation should consider the local conditions and must be professionally planned to increase injection life time.
The location selection of the recharge basin should consider the permeability of the unsaturated zone and the ability to pump the water.

39. THANK YOU