Spreading ground

[2] When natural percolation of precipitation is insufficient to replenish groundwater withdrawn for human use, artificial recharge helps prevent aquifer depletion, subsidence and saltwater intrusion.

Spreading grounds are one of several available technologies, and are useful to harness storm water runoff in populated areas with low annual precipitation.

For example, Los Angeles County, California has 27 such facilities, and four more operated in conjunction with the department[clarification needed], many of which date to the 1930s.

[3][4] While managed aquifer recharge (MAR) projects utilizing storm water and diverted surface water runoff augment groundwater recharge, data suggests that the infiltration capacity of spreading grounds in drought-prone regions is underused due to the seasonality of rainfall.

[7] Today, many spreading grounds, which were once considered single-purpose facilities, are being converted to combine municipalities' goals for groundwater recharge with demands for additional recreational opportunities, green space and wildlife habitat.