Basin Recharge of the Ogallala Aquifer

Ground-water recharge basins were tested to determine the feasibility of percolating surface water to the Ogallala Formation in the Texas High Plains. The basins were excavated into porous sediments which separate the ground water formation and the slowly permeable surface soil. Initially, two 1/10-acre basins were tested, one with clear well water and the other with turbid water from a playa (wet weather) lake. Percolation rates with clear well water were as high as 7 ft per day, and the sustained percolation rate with turbid water exceeded 1 ft per day. Results of the initial study were used to design and construct a 1.0-acre basin that can be filled by gravity flow from a playa lake. The maximum percolation rate during a 2-week test with clear well water was 2.0 ft per day. The study shows that the Ogallala Formation can be recharged through basins if the slowly permeable surface soil is removed.