3. Effects of urbanization on groundwater recharge

Urbanization has profound impacts on the hydrological cycle. These include radical, but not easily measured, changes in groundwater recharge, with modification to existing recharge mechanisms and the introduction of new ones. An analysis of factors controlling the infiltration process and potential groundwater recharge rates is given, and discussed through the results of five field surveys. Contrary to common belief, evidence of a general increase in recharge is presented. If not masked by the effects of major groundwater abstraction for water-supply, this will have a long-term impact on groundwater levels and flow. The process of urbanization itself, therefore, can exert a marked influence on the subsurface engineering structures and installations which it also creates. The scale of this impact will depend mainly upon the water-service infrastructure, the superficial geology and the regional hydrogeological setting.

• Introduction

• Principal sources of field data

• Analysis of factors affecting recharge

• Principal conclusions

• Acknowledgements

• References