Managed Aquifer Recharge in Integrated Water Resource Management

Abstract

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is one tool in integrated water resources management which can restore over-allocated or brackish aquifers, protect groundwater-dependent ecosystems, enhance urban and rural water supplies, reduce evaporation losses and improve water supply security. This chapter describes the ways in which MAR is used around the world and presents two Australian case studies, with a focus on economics. Aquifer storage and recovery of urban stormwater via a confined limestone aquifer is shown to provide a viable alternative to use of existing mains water or desalinated seawater for public open space irrigation. The second case study is a desk-top evaluation of the potential for recharge of harvested floodwater via infiltration basins for irrigation of cotton and faba bean crops. Based on assumptions about scale of operations, component and maintenance costs, and evaporation losses, the net benefits of infiltration basins for a range of infiltration rates were compared with those of surface water storage and of aquifer storage and recovery wells. Infiltration basins with moderate to high rates of infiltration (>0.15 m/d) had the highest net benefits and warrant testing in a pilot program. Water treatment costs make ASR with flood waters unattractive for crop irrigation, in comparison with both basin infiltration and surface storage. Selection of the most economic method of storage depends on availability of an aquifer, soil and subsurface hydraulic characteristics, available quantity and quality of surface water, land value and end use of the water. MAR is shown to offer a range of options that P. Dillon (*) Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Land and Water,

Enhancing drought resilience with conjunctive use and managed aquifer recharge in California and Arizona

“…However, aquifers do not distinguish between managed versus nonmanaged recharge. Various approaches to MAR include surface spreading basins, vadose zone dry wells, and direct recharge to aquifers using wells (aquifer storage and recovery, ASR) [10][11][12][13]. The term 'groundwater banking' is used throughout the western US and includes (1) MAR and (2) 'in lieu' recharge [13].…”

Fluoride and phosphate release from carbonate-rich fluorapatite during managed aquifer recharge

“…Globally, but especially in arid and semiarid regions, managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is an increasingly used water management tool. It involves infiltration or direct injection of water into suitable aquifers to improve and secure long-term water supplies (Casanova et al, 2016;Dillon and Arshad, 2016). In most applications of MAR, the infiltration or injection of various water types (e.g., surface water, purified wastewater, stormwater runoff) typically creates a geochemical disequilibrium that triggers a wide range of water-rock interactions (Descourvieres et al, 2010a;Fakhreddine et al, 2015;McNab Jr et al, 2009;Treumann et al, 2014;Vanderzalm et al, 2010;Wallis et al, 2011).…”

Managed Versus Natural Recharge of Pre‐Alpine Phreatic Aquifers

“…Important advancements have been achieved in MAR over the last decades (Dillon et al, 2019). With the need to face advancing climatic changes and growing human need of freshwater, MAR represents an increasingly important strategy for water management allowing to enhance stressed groundwater systems, protect natural subsurface water resources, and improve the quality of surface waters and treated wastewaters for their use and reuse (Dillon & Arshad, 2016).…”