When estimating groundwater recharge in karstified and fractured aquifers
it’s important to take into consideration, that they differ from porous aquifers
by inhomogeneities of their hydraulic properties because of the great variance
of infiltrati
on properties in their rocks. In this research the process of
groundwater recharge in Sher-mansour and Haramon areas in Antilebanon,
where karstified and fractured aquifers are developed, was discussed. The
portion of rainfall reaching the groundwater was calculated by applying water
balance and groundwater level changes methods. In the first method the area
was divided into surface zones and water balance components were calculated
in each zone and the portion was estimated at 55.8% of rainfall in dry years
like 2005-2006. In the second method the area was divided into subsurface
zones and groundwater level fluctuations, storage coefficient and groundwater
storage were calculated. The groundwater recharge varied between 17.5% in
Haramon area and 80% in Sher Mansour area. The results showed that
portions of rainfall reaching groundwater are not equal in the deferent
subsurface zones and are deferent from those calculated by water balance
method.
