The artificial recharge as a tool for the water resources management: case of the aquifer recharge system of Geneva (Switzerland)

The drinking water supply for the Geneva area comes partly (80%) from the lake Geneva and partly (20%) from a large transboundary aquifer called Genevois aquifer. During the 70's, overpumping lowered the groundwater level by more than 7m. Artificial recharge has been carried out from the Arve river into the Genevois aquifer in order to maintain the groundwater level and enable water resources management. Located near the Arve river, this artificial recharge plant started its activity in 1980. For the last almost 30 years the artificial recharge system of Geneva has brought over 230 hm(3) of treated water into the Genevois aquifer. The impacts of the recharge on the Genevois aquifer and on the aquifer management are described in this paper.