Integration of Artificial Recharge and Recovery Systems for Impaired Water Sources in Urban Settings: Overcoming Current Limitations and Engineering Challenges

Abstract

Utilization of underlying local aquifers to treat, store, and recover locally produced reclaimed water provides the potential to reduce costs, energy, and infrastructure requirements of water supplies in urban areas. However, water quality issues, limited design and operational guidance, and physical footprint requirements are impeding the implementation of artificial recharge and recovery (ARR) systems in urban water infrastructure configurations. This article reviews the current practice of ARR and proposes approaches to improve the integration into urban settings regarding (1) feasibility of a reduced physical footprint of ARR systems, while maintaining water quality benefits and maximizing yield; and (2) manipulating subsurface hydrological, geochemical, and biological conditions to increase attenuation of key contaminants. The contribution of this interdisciplinary review article is to outline ways to achieve improved design and control strategies of ARR systems that ensure cost-effective water supply and consistent water quality by leveraging current understanding and technology.

Anomalous transport on regular fracture networks: Impact of conductivity heterogeneity and mixing at fracture intersections

“…Predictability of the observed anomalous transport is essential because it controls the early arrival and the long residence time of particles [22][23][24]. This becomes especially important for environmental and human-health-related issues, such as radionuclide transport in the subsurface [25,26] or water quality evolution in managed aquifer recharge systems [27][28][29].…”

Biotransformation of trace organic chemicals during groundwater recharge: How useful are first-order rate constants?

“…The redox environment of MAR systems has been identified as a primary driver for mobility, dissolution, transformation, and toxicity of most TOrC present in infiltrating water (Grützmacher and Reuleaux, 2011;Hoppe-Jones et al, 2010;Regnery et al, 2013;Wiese et al, 2011). Microorganisms are adapted to specific redox zones and microbial activity drives redox conditions in the subsurface besides hydro-geochemical reactions.…”

“…Seasonal temperature changes also have an effect on the redox chemistry of groundwater and can lead to significant differences in TOrC removal efficiency . Therefore, affecting redox conditions of MAR systems can change the removal performance of redoxsensitive TOrC (Grützmacher and Reuleaux, 2011;Müller et al, 2013;Regnery et al, 2013).…”

Strategien und Potenziale zur Energieoptimierung bei der Wasserwiederverwendung

“…Die aktive Nutzung des Grundwasser leiters, beispielsweise bei der Uferfiltration oder der künstlichen Grundwasser anreicherung, wird seit vielen Jahrzehnten in Deutschland und weltweit zur Auf bereitung von Trinkwasser und zur weiter gehenden Behandlung und Speicherung von Abwasser praktiziert (Regnery et al 2013). Zahlreiche Studien haben gezeigt, dass dabei viele Wasserinhalts stoffe, darunter die Trübung, DOC, Nitrat und eine Vielzahl organischer Spuren stoffe, effektiv entfernt werden können (Massmann et al 2007;HoppeJones et al 2010 …”