Sains Malaysiana 42(5)(2013): 553–560

Estimating Groundwater Recharge Using Empirical Method: A Case Study

in the Tropical Zone

(Menganggarkan Aliran Masuk Air Bawah Tanah Menggunakan Kaedah Empirik:

Kajian Kes di Zon Tropika)

Seyed Reza Saghravani & Ismail Yusoff*

Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University Malaya

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sa’ari Mustapha

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Seyed Fazlollah Saghravani

Department of Civil Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology

Shahrood, Semnan Province, Iran

Received: 27 February 2012 / Accepted: 20 October 2012

ABSTRACT

Estimation and forecast of groundwater recharge and capacity of aquifer are essential issues in water resources investigation. In the current research, groundwater recharge, recharge coefficient and effective rainfall were determined through a case study using empirical methods applicable to the tropical zones. The related climatological data between January 2000 and December 2010 were collected in Selangor, Malaysia. The results showed that groundwater recharge was 326.39 mm per year, effective precipitation was 1807.97 mm per year and recharge coefficient was 18% for the study area. In summary, the precipitation converted to recharge, surface runoff and evapotranspiration are 12, 32 and 56% of rainfall, respectively. Correlation between climatic parameters and groundwater recharge showed positive and negative relationships. The highest correlation was found between precipitation and recharge. Linear multiple regressions between recharge and measured climatologic data proved significant relationship between recharge and rainfall and wind speed. It was also proven that the proposed model provided an accurate estimation for similar projects.

Keywords: Effective rainfall; groundwater recharge; recharge coefficient; tropical zone

ABSTRAK

Anggaran dan unjuran aliran masuk air bawah tanah dan keupayaan akuifer adalah isu-isu penting dalam penyiasatan sumber air. Dalam penyelidikan ini, aliran masuk air bawah tanah, pekali aliran masuk dan keberkesanan hujan telah ditentukan melalui kajian kes yang menggunakan kaedah empirikal berkenaan zon tropika. Data yang berkaitan dengan klimatologi antara Januari 2000 dan Disember 2010 telah dikumpulkan di Selangor. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa aliran masuk air bawah tanah adalah 326.39 mm setahun, pemendakan berkesan adalah 1807.97 mm per tahun dan pekali aliran masuk adalah 18% bagi kawasan kajian. Secara ringkasnya, pemendakan ditukar kepada tenaga, air larian permukaan dan penyejatpeluhan masing-masing 12, 32 dan 56% daripada hujan. Korelasi antara parameter iklim dan aliran masuk air bawah tanah menunjukkan hubungan positif dan negatif. Korelasi yang tertinggi didapati antara pemendakan dan aliran masuk. Regresi linear berganda antara aliran masuk dan diukur daripada data iklim membuktikan hubungan yang signifikan antara aliran masuk dan hujan serta kelajuan angin. Ia juga membuktikan bahawa model yang dicadangkan memberi anggaran yang tepat bagi projek-projek yang sama.

Keywords: Aliran masuk air bawah tanah; hujan berkesan; pekali aliran masuk; zon tropika

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*Corresponding author; email: ismaily70@um.edu.my