Among the several options of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques, the aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is a well-known sub-surface technique to replenish depleted aquifers, which is contingent upon the selection of appropriate sites. This paper explores the potential of ASR for groundwater recharge in the hydrological, hydrogeological, social, and economic context of South Bihar in India. Based on the water samples from more than 137 wells and socio-economic surveys, ASR installations were piloted through seven selected entrepreneurial farmers in two villages of South Bihar. The feasibility of ASR in both hard rock and deep alluvial aquifers was demonstrated for the prominent aquifer types in the marginal alluvial plains of South Bihar and elsewhere. It was postulated through this pilot study that a successful spread of ASR in South Bihar can augment usable water resources for agriculture during the winter cropping season. More importantly, ASR can adapt to local circumstances and challenges under changing climatic conditions. The flexible and participatory approach in this pilot study also allowed the farmers to creatively engage with the design and governance aspects of the recharge pit. The entrepreneurial farmers-led model builds local accountability, creates avenues for private investments, and opens up the space for continued innovation in technology and management, while also committing to resource distributive justice and environmental sustainability.

In India in recent decades, groundwater has emerged as a principal source for meeting drinking and irrigation needs. As a result, groundwater depletion and overextraction are acknowledged as a major concern. Different policy interventions are being explored to augment the management of aquifers. Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is one such intervention that is becoming popular among government agencies, developmental actors, and even farmers for recharging and recovering water from aquifers. However, the selection of a suitable location and appropriate aquifer for recharge is challenging. The main objective of this study was to classify site selection criteria for ASR installations in different types of aquifers in North India. In this study, both scientific indicators (i.e., rainfall, elevation, soil and aquifer characteristics, surface and groundwater quality) and social characteristics (tacit knowledge, land ownership, willingness to participate) were evaluated to create an integrated ASR site selection criterion. The results indicated that ASR sites could not be appropriately identified solely based on available metrological, geospatial, and geohydrological data. Socioeconomic parameters should be an integral part of the decision-making process for the site selection for ASR. Based on these scientific indicators and social characteristics, a total of seven potential ASR sites (three in the village of Nekpur and four in the village of Meyar) were selected at Rajgir, Nalanda, Bihar, India. Although this integrated site-assessment framework was designed based on 12 indicators in the context of the marginal alluvial plains for the mid-Ganga regions in this study, the general principles adopted in this study can be applicable to other regions.