Hello Bro.

While Groundwater recharge can be defined as infiltrated water flowing through the unsaturated zone into the groundwater zone below the saturated surface.

Recharge is commonly expressed as the amount of water that fills an aquifer over a given period, and is usually measured in millimeters per year.

Groundwater potential means the volume of water which can be abstracted over a period from an aquifer without adversely affecting the quantity and quality of the water or the environment above the aquifer

Multiple data like lithology, lineament density, geomorphology, slope, soil, rainfall, drainage density, and land use/land cover are considered for delineating the groundwater potential zones

I found out recharge zone is an area of a layer above water table that can be used for recharge (porous) while potential zone of groundwater is about the area which have space available for ground water table (for withdrawal or recharging).

From the definitions: GWR is more into the process that enables runoff to infiltrate and percolate into the subsurface whereas GW potential is the capability of a point or place or region to sustain the abstraction of groundwater and supply it for use either domestically, livestock, industrial or irrigation etc., for a considerable period.

Understanding and delineating the recharge and potential areas is a two-way process:-

1. Isotope analysis, Remote sensing /satellite analysis works based on recharge whereas

2. Potential requires an integrated approach;-Remote sensing, Hydrogeological and geophysical investigations.

Hope this answers your question

Groundwater recharge is done with precipitation or artificial recharge pools or surface water like lake,… . Groundwater potential zone is aplied for area with high potential for maintaining groundwater.