Stormwater and treated wastewater are possible water sources for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in the Botany sand aquifer, located south of the Sydney CBD. MAR using leaky structures and injection bores can improve water quality and enhance water supply security. Aquifers may form part of the treatment train for water reuse, given long residence times and a degree of natural attenuation capacity for specific contaminants.
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A pre-feasibility assessment of MAR in the north-eastern Botany aquifer was recently undertaken by UNSW and UTS (UNSW Water Research Laboratory Technical Report 2006/33). This rapid assessment that was based on available data concluded that further investigation was warranted, including updating of groundwater hydrographs, geological and groundwater modeling to assess sustainable yields. A comprehensive groundwater quality survey was recommended along with measurements of actual recharge rates. Rough estimates indicated that each MAR system in the north-eastern Botany aquifer could deliver 20 million litres of water year after year. If the feasibility of multiple MAR systems is verified, about 5% of Sydney's annual water usage could be sourced in a sustainable manner.
Recharge and extraction systems in the Botany aquifer can be designed to achieve desired residence times and incorporate protection zones, based on groundwater flow rates of about 150 m per year. The north-eastern parts of the Botany aquifer are at an elevation at least 30 vertical metres above the base of the aquifer near Alexandra Canal and Botany Bay where contaminated groundwater plumes have been identified. Flow paths towards the south and south-west mean that it is not possible for contaminated plumes to be drawn upwards and northwards.
Recharge and extraction systems in the Botany aquifer can be designed to achieve desired residence times and incorporate protection zones, based on groundwater flow rates of about 150 m per year. The north-eastern parts of the Botany aquifer are at an elevation at least 30 vertical metres above the base of the aquifer near Alexandra Canal and Botany Bay where contaminated groundwater plumes have been identified. Flow paths towards the south and south-west mean that it is not possible for contaminated plumes to be drawn upwards and northwards.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treatment required prior to recharge would depend on source concentrations and attenuation capacity during the recharge process to ensure protection of groundwater quality and prevention of clogging. In the north-eastern part of the aquifer, groundwater would typically meet drinking water quality guidelines with disinfection and removal of iron, while nitrate concentrations are an issue in some areas. There are many urban aquifers and unprotected catchments around the world that with careful management and application of HACCP (Hazard Action Critical Control Planning) are a component of drinking water supply systems.
Sustainable groundwater yield could be boosted by MAR, possibly as part of a 'multiple barrier' approach for indirect potable reuse of purified wastewater. A concept for optimising supplies during dry conditions by low risk pilot MAR tests using stormwater is being developed by UNSW Water Research Laboratory with colleagues at UTS and proponents of MAR.
Recent CWI-WRL team activities for Managed Aquifer Recharge schemes include:
Sustainable groundwater yield could be boosted by MAR, possibly as part of a 'multiple barrier' approach for indirect potable reuse of purified wastewater. A concept for optimising supplies during dry conditions by low risk pilot MAR tests using stormwater is being developed by UNSW Water Research Laboratory with colleagues at UTS and proponents of MAR.
Recent CWI-WRL team activities for Managed Aquifer Recharge schemes include:
- MAR assessment work at several sites in the Botany sands aquifer, including concept designs for harvesting and treatment of stormwater for recharge.
- Development of MAR concepts and review of various MAR schemes in alluvial aquifer systems.
- Presentation to IAH-NSW meeting on MAR, August 2007.
- Invited evaluation of a working draft of "Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling Volume 2C - Managed Aquifer Recharge".
- Site inspections of aquifer storage recovery (ASR) sites at the City of Salisbury's Parafield site.
- Site inspection and technical meetings at Orange County Water Replenishment System (USA) including recharge ponds, injection bores, recycled water treatment and community information displays.
- Site inspections of the CSIRO MAR trial sites in Perth's sandy aquifer.
- WRL participation in the 4th ASR National Workshop on MAR held on the Gold Coast in 2007.
 |
 |
Further information: Professor Ian Acworth and Dr Wendy Timms
Links:
- Recharging groundwater supplies using recycled water
- ABC Catalyst TV segment: Groundwater
- Timms W, Acworth I, Badenhop A (2007). Managed aquifer recharge in the Botany sand aquifer - part of the treatment train for water reuse?. In: Khan S, Stuetz R, Anderson J (Eds) Water Reuse and Recycling 2007. Proceedings of the 3rd AWA Water Reuse and Recyling Conference (REUSE07), Sydney, Australia, 16-18 July 2007, Published by UNSW, ISBN 978 0 7334 2517 2, pp476-485. (Abstract and download).