The study developed a method to model recharge and evapotranspiration in shallow groundwater systems more efficiently. By using a surrogate modelling approach, the researchers created relationships between groundwater depth and net recharge for different environmental conditions. This method accurately predicted net recharge and groundwater levels in regions with varying soil, vegetation, and climate characteristics. The model was found to be robust, with no significant increase in run time, and outperformed traditional models in areas with steep hydraulic gradients.