January 27, 2023 – The National Groundwater Association is sponsoring a conference on Managed Aquifer Recharge — MAR — this April.

The Association explains that “MAR captures available water during wet periods, periods of low demand, or water that would otherwise be lost and intentionally moves this water underground for subsequent recovery or other benefit. While practiced for decades, MAR is of growing interest by many communities.”

California and Arizona have been using MAR for years, with the Arizona Water Banking Authority accruing 4.37 million acre-feet of long-term storage credits of Colorado River entitlements since 1996 and California’s Orange County Water District and the Orange County Sanitation District partnering to create the largest successful groundwater replenishment system in the world.  Over 340 recharge projects are proposed throughout California.

One Green Planet writes, “Managed aquifer recharge is a promising solution for addressing water shortages in Western states. By replenishing depleted aquifers, communities can improve water security and support a healthier environment. If implemented on a wide enough scale, recharge projects have the potential to generate a whole new water supply.”

The National Groundwater Association’s conference in San Antonio this April will provide a forum for sharing technical, regulatory, and institutional lessons from existing projects to develop successful recharge projects addressing water supply resilience and groundwater quality.

Image Source:

Aquifer concepts via Wikimedia Commons.