How humans bend the hydrograph: experiences in mitigating drought through small-scale managed aquifer recharge
Small-scale managed aquifer recharge (s-MAR) can help replenish depleted aquifers, extend groundwater availability during dry seasons and drought, and reduce flooding. Whether s-MAR brings these benefits not only depends on hydrogeological conditions and technical design, but also on how interventions align with social norms, governance structures and local priorities. Drawing on s-MAR experiences in Ethiopia, India and Mexico, we apply a critical sociohydrological lens to examine how interactions between water, people and climate shape hydrological outcomes. We highlight implications for sociohydrology and improving the planning, participation and long-term governance of s-MAR interventions.
Authors
- Roberto Velasco Herrera
- Nadir Hernández Quiroz
- Britt Basel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9507-1383)
- Himanshu Kulkarni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7099-6988)
- Uma Aslekar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7709-1266)
- Kifle Woldearegay
- Luigi Piemontese
Institutions
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (DE)
- Northrop Grumman (United States) (US)
- Observatorio de Mortalidad Materna en México (MX)
- Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management (IN)
- Union Hospital (CN)
- University of Florence (IT)
- Universitat Politècnica de València (ES)
- Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (SV)
- Mekelle University (ET)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Water Resources Development
- Published
- 2026-02-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2025.2602533
- Primary Topic
- Water Governance and Infrastructure
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00