Managed aquifer recharge
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is the purposeful recharge of water to aquifers for subsequent recovery or environmental benefit. In urban areas, MAR can provide effective storage for desalinated seawater, recycled water, stormwater and even mains water, reducing transportation costs and water-loss through evaporation.
Types and scales of MAR
A variety of methods are used in the growing number of MAR schemes in Australia. These currently include:
- aquifer storage and recovery (ASR)
- aquifer storage, transfer and recover (ASTR)
- infiltration ponds
- infiltration galleries
- soil aquifer treatment
- percolation tanks or recharge weirs
- rainwater harvesting for aquifer storage
- recharge releases.
MAR can be employed at varying scales and complexities, from backyard infiltration and recovery systems to large-scale augmentation of drinking water supplies.
Common reasons for conducting a MAR project
MAR is in use in many countries to enhance water supplies, particular in semi-arid and arid areas, but also in humid areas. MAR projects, particularly in urban areas, can have objectives and benefits over and above the provision of additional water supply. These can include:
- waterway health improvement and ecosystem protection
- flood alleviation
- deferment of asset management costs such as for stormwater and storage infrastructure.