Aquifer storage and recovery

27/03/2012

Aquifer storage recovery (ASR) in a confined UK aquifer 20th March 2012 Simon Arthur Steve Buss Mike Streetly

Aquifer storage and recovery • Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is the re-injection of potable water back into an aquifer for later recovery and use

ASR Forum

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27/03/2012

Key Issues • Mixing – Normally target deep, confined aquifers. Water quality may be poor

• Hydrochemistry – Reactions - water:water and water:rock – Aquifer conditioning

ASR Forum

Generic FEFLOW model of London Chalk

London Clay

Chalk

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27/03/2012

FEFLOW Outputs 45 40

Head (m AOD) (mg/l)

35 30 25 20 15 Hydraulic Head (m AOD)

10 5 0 0

Background

1

2

3

4

5 6 Time (years)

7

8

9

10

9

10

500 480

Average BH Concentration (mg/L)

Concentration (mg/l)

460 440 420 400 380 360 340 320

Injected

300 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Time (years)

Summary • ASR is an important tool for water resource managers • Target aquifers are likely to have poor quality water • Mixing and complex hydrochemical reactions requires careful modelling

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