__NOTOC__ <small{{Language-title box|english_link= Water Portal / Rainwater Harvesting / Groundwater recharge />Wells, shafts, and boreholes | french_link= Coming soon | spanish_link= Coming soon | hindi_link= वाटर पोर्टल / वर्षाजल संचयन / भूजल पुनर्भरण / कुंए, कूपक और बोर | malayalam_link= Coming soon | tamil_link= Coming soon | korean_link= Coming soon | chinese_link=井、竖井及井孔 | indonesian_link= Coming soon | japanese_link= Coming soon }}__NOTOC__
[[Image:Wells,_shafts,_and_boreholes_icon.png|right|80px]]
[[Image:RechargePit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Recharge pit constructed for recharge of surface runoff. Rajasthan, India. <br> Photo: [http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001438/143819e.pdf ''Strategies for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) in semi-arid areas.''] UNESCO.]]
'''Wells, shafts, and/or boreholes''' are holes (often human-made) in the ground at various depths used for the purposes of storing water for later use.
Large diameter wells and smaller diameter boreholes can be used to directly recharge or dilute shallow aquifers where low permeability strata (rock) overlies the aquifers and where other infiltration methods are not effective. The important thing is that water of high enough water quality is used for this purpose. Although this method of recharge is practised with deep and high-yielding boreholes, this technique mainly describes recharge at the family level in areas where hand dug wells run dry at the end of the dry season or where groundwater is saline.
===Construction, operations and maintenance===
'''General advice on cement''': A common cause of cracks in structures and linings (e.g. in tanks, dams, waterways, wells) is errors in mixing and applying the cement. First of all, it is important that only pure ingredients are used: clean water, clean sand, clean rocks. The materials have to be mixed very thoroughly. Secondly, the amount of water during mixing needs to minimal: the concrete or cement needs to be just workable, on the dry side even, and not fluid. Thirdly, it is essential that during curing the cement or concrete is kept moist at all times, for at least a week. Structures should be covered with plastic, large leaves or other materials during the curing period, and kept wet regularly.
[[Image:RoofToAquifer.jpg|thumb|right|300px200px|Roof to aquifer recharge. Click image to zoom. <br> Drawing: Unicef/Ara Centro. (2009)]]
====Water source considerations====
====Maintenance====
Some chemical pretreatment of the water may be required to prevent flocculation of iron, CaCO3, etc. and chlorination of other disinfection may be needed to prevent microbial growth. Clogged wells may need to be recovered at regular intervals using surging and pumping to remove fines and bacterial growth physically and the use of a wetting agent to remove air in an air-clogged well. Carbonate aquifers exhibit the least amount of clogging due to the gradual dissolution of calcite by a slightly acidic injectant, if periodic backflushing is observed.
===Field experiences===
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===Manuals, videos and links===
* [http://www.trustindiawaterportal.org/alertnetarticles/newswell-revival-effort-sees-many-other-benefits Well revival effort sees many other benefits] A community drive to revive wells in Mokhla talab near Udaipur results in water security for longer periods of time as well as making leaders out of women.* [http:/namibian/www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/experiments-capitalcommunity-needswells Experiments with 'community wells'] Mobilized farmers in Dhule, Maharashtra, show how communities can use groundwater as a common resource in an organised and collective manner.* [http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/battling-water-banksscarcity-borewell-recharge Battling water scarcity with borewell recharge]* [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/26/us-fornamibia-drywater-times idUSTRE79P41B20111026 Namibian capital needs "water banks" for dry times]. Reuters. 26 Oct 2011.
* [http://www.ewisa.co.za/literature/files/087.pdf Planning Water Resource Management: The Case for Managing Aquifer Recharge], by E.C. Murray and G. Tredoux.
* [http://www.indiawaterportal.org/nodearticles/6270 Recharge Wellaugmenting-groundwater-basics-how-construct-recharge-well Augmenting groundwater: Cost and CautionThe basics on how to construct a recharge well]. India Water Portal. Includes materials and costs.
* Commercial product: [http://www.kentainers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Permawell.pdf PERMAWELL]. Made by AquaSanTec.