MARSoluT — Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training Network

Results in brief

Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training Network

The deterioration of groundwater resources due to overexploitation, pollution by industrial or agricultural activities, or seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers is a worldwide reality. The problem will increase due to climate change. At the same time, large water quantities are lost to the oceans as, e.g., surface runoff, river discharge, or discharge of wastewater. These water sources could be used to increase water availability in general, specifically in periods of high demand, and therefore improve water supply resilience. Based on this mismatch between water demand and water availability, the concept of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) was developed. MAR is the active and purposeful recharge of available waters from various sources to aquifers for intermediate storage and subsequent recovery, or for environmental benefit. The potential of MAR as part of an integrated water management is far from being fully exploited. Reasons for this are research needs that still have to be addressed, e.g. on measures to ensure the sustainability of infiltration rates or to achieve set water quality goals during infiltration. Other reasons are related to insufficient knowledge on the suitability of potential sites, e.g. whether sufficient storage in the subsurface is available and a good recovery can be achieved. Additionally, the operation of MAR sites has to be economically feasible, accepted by the public, and within the legal boundaries set by regulatory agencies. There is also a lack of experts that are able to design, implement, and operate MAR installations successfully, based on a solid knowledge of the physical, biological, and hydrochemical processes that occur at MAR sites, and who can tailor MAR systems for optimized performance. The objective of MARSoluT was therefore to close knowledge gaps in MAR that are related to the complex processes in the subsurface, to contribute to the optimisation of MAR schemes in technical design and operational success, and through this advance MAR to one of the key technologies to cope with the impact of climatic changes on our water resources. Another key objective of MARSoluT was training of a group of highly motivated and qualified young professionals (Early Stage Researchers, ESRs) and with this to accelerate market penetration of MAR, creating market opportunities for European industry and SMEs.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) – storing water in aquifers during times of excess – is a key strategy to enrich groundwater resources in water scarce regions by providing intermediate storage, addressing the typical mismatch between water demand and availability. It can help to mitigate the effects of climate change, and to support water-related environmental services. MAR is, however, characterized by complex interaction of physical, biological and hydrochemical processes influencing water quality and the sustainability of infiltration rates. Individual processes are in principal known, but there is a significant knowledge gap on how they are linked and affect each other. An in-depth understanding of their interplay can lead to MAR systems tailored for best performance in terms of water storage, water polishing goals, infiltration rates, economic viability, and adaptation to climatic change.MARSoluT addresses this knowledge gap by a collaborative effort in a multi-disciplinary team. Activities are organized around the existing field sites of previous EU FP7 project MARSOL that are already highly characterised and instrumented to allow further in-depth studies and experimental approaches. This will lead to new insights into the complex and coupled processes at MAR sites and will help to optimize MAR design and operation, and thereby minimizing risk of MAR failure. Excellence in research and technological innovation are ensured by involving partners from renown research organizations as well as SMEs and industry partners with a strong background in the water sector.MARSoluT ESRs will get hands-on experience at various MAR sites while tackling specific MAR-related research topics in an interdisciplinary team. MARSoluT ESRs will become experts on the tailored planning of MAR systems making them attractive for employers from research, industry, and regulatory agencies which are eager to implement MAR into sound and safe Integrated Water Resources Management concepts.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADT · DarmstadtCoordinatorGermany
AGENCIA PORTUGUESA DO AMBIENTE IP · AmadoraPortugal
EMPRESA DE TRANSFORMACION AGRARIA SA · MadridSpain
ENERGY AND WATER AGENCY · QormiMalta
ERM ITALIA SPA · MilanoItaly
ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION · ATHINAGreece
GREEN2SUSTAIN IDIOTIKI KEFALAIOUCHIKI ETAIREIA · GalatsiGreece
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR UMWELTFORSCHUNG GMBH - UFZ · LeipzigGermany
IWW HOLDING GEMEINNUTZIGE GMBH · Mulheim an der RuhrGermany
LABORATORIO NACIONAL DE ENGENHARIA CIVIL · LisboaPortugal
MEKOROT WATER COMPANY LIMITED · Tel AvivIsrael
SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO S ANNA · PisaItaly
TEA SISTEMI SRL · PISAItaly
TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY · Tel AvivIsrael
THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION OF ISRAEL - THE VOLCANI CENTRE · Bet DaganIsrael
UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID · MadridSpain
UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE · FaroPortugal
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA · BARCELONASpain
WATER SERVICES CORPORATION - WSC · LuqaMalta

MARSoluT · Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training Network

Results in brief

Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training Network

Project objective

Participants

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