The recharge will act to stabilize the groundwater table and hopefully the groundwater will be released slowly through the revival of springs. Part of this program is to compensate people who had to abandon cultivation in the wetland area. Water is to be used for drinking but also for yam production, and irrigation.
====Spring revival====
This pilot consists of several technologies to restore the water level to guarantee revival of dried springs and wells. Four different methods are tested, all adapted to the different context of the spring or well.
A dried spring is in a valley where, during the rains, water flows in a small stream. Uphill of this spring a cascade of permeable blockages will be constructed with gabions to block the flow of the runoff and allow it to infiltrate.
# Uphill from another dried spring where there is not such a clear valley, two infiltration pits are dug through a thick layer of clay soil to reach the subsoil. Runoff from the slope is guided into these pits to recharge the groundwater.
# Uphill from a dried shallow borehole we combine terracing (FanyaJuu), road runoff infiltration pits, and ponds to restore the water level around the borehole.
# Finally, a shallow well will be constructed combined with recharge measures close to the well in a grazing area. Since this is pasture land, two small earth bunds with a flatter surface and gentle slopes will replace the the usual terraces. This will allow grazing of animals to continue, but still provide infiltration of surface runoff close to the spring. The spring will be turned into a shallow well for multiple use, such as for cattle.
