ACT aquifer storage and recovery feasibility study
Project details
| Objective: |
To investigate the possibility of using Aquifer Storage and Recharge to store water in aquifers that would normally have been stored in a large reservoir. |
| Funding: |
$410 000 |
| Jurisdiction: |
ACT |
| Commenced: | August 2009 |
| Completion: | December 2011 |
About the project
This project will investigate the possibility of using Aquifer Storage and Recharge (ASR) to store water in aquifers that would normally have been stored in a large reservoir. The ACT Government will investigate the possibility of using ASR to store water in aquifers that would normally have been stored in a large reservoir. If the feasibility study shows that such a scheme is economically and environmentally justifiable, the scheme to inject water from a large reservoir into an aquifer to reduce evaporation losses would be innovative and highly demonstrable.
Project benefits
The project would undertake a feasibility study that would involve consideration of technical, cost and management aspects of a potential Aquifer Storage and Recharge (ASR) scheme, including:
- Storage capacity of the Carwoola River Flats and Butmaroo Creek aquifers
- Ability to get water into and out of the aquifers and how this might produce impediments to scheme operation
- Relevant water quality issues
- Identify least cost route for transfer pipe from Googong Reservoir
- Estimate costs for construction of pipe and pumping
- Assessment of current end users and existing legislative and administrative arrangements
- Impact on the local communities and the environment
- Identify the benefits and risks of an ASR scheme
- Responsibility for ownership, operation, maintenance and management of water and infrastructure between NSW and ACT
Progress
July 2010
The project is progressing on time. A design study brief has been developed, procurement has been completed and a written agreement between ACT and NSW to proceed with the preliminary design has been finalised.