An infiltration test to evaluate the efficiency of groundwater recharge dams in arid countries

To evaluate the effectiveness of groundwater recharge, a field test has been carried out in the Sultanate of Oman. The test is a large scale infiltration test with the possibility to measure the suction in the unsaturated soil in different depths. The measurement data serves as a basis for a comprehensive numerical model to simulate the recharge process downstream of dams. Nevertheless, the evaluation of the data confirms some theoretical ideas of the infiltration process. Based upon them some general recommendations for the recharge operation can be given. However, some of the results are quite unexpected and arouse curiosity for further investigations.