The increasing frequency of droughts has been increasing the necessity of utilizing subsurface dams as reliable groundwater resources in areas where it is difficult to supply adequate agricultural water using only surface water. In this study, we analyzed the current status and actual conditions of five agricultural subsurface dams as well as the effect of obtaining additional groundwater from subsurface dams operated as one aspect of the sustainable integrated water management system. Based on the construction methods and functions of each subsurface dam, the five subsurface dams are classified into three types such as those that derive water from rivers, those that prevent seawater intrusion, and those that link to a main irrigation canal. The classification is based on various conditions including topography, reservoir location, irrigation facilities, and river and alluvial deposit distributions. Agricultural groundwater upstream of subsurface dams is obtained from four to five radial collector wells. From the study, the total amount of groundwater recovered from the subsurface dam is turned out to be about 29~44% of the total irrigation water demand, which is higher than that of general agricultural groundwater of about 4.6%.

Keywords: Drought;Subsurface dam;Groundwater;Classification;Radial collector well;