Use of artificial infiltration to strengthen groundwater reserves

Artificial infiltration is an increasingly popular water management method for retaining water in the landscape and slowing its runoff. Up the 1960s, the Czech Republic was among the leaders in this field. However, the nationwide strategy changed and focused on surface water supply. A period of alternating climatic extremes (floods and droughts) has shown that this was a bad decision. Most countries with appropriate hydrogeological conditions have incorporated artificial infiltration into their drought measures – for example, Israel recycles 87% of its treated wastewater by allowing it to seep through artificial infiltration. In Germany, 20% of all drinking water comes from various forms of artificial infiltration. In the Czech Republic, a number of promising sites have been selected, including areas affected by drought, and administratively secured detailed technical projects, including justified budgets, are prepared for them. However, the necessary financial resources are still missing to launch them.