Grantee Research Project Results

2024 Progress Report: Protecting Water Quality during Enhanced Aquifer Recharge: A Geochemical Compatibility Assessment of Various Water Sources and Co-located Aquifers in the United States

EPA Grant Number: R840617
Title: Protecting Water Quality during Enhanced Aquifer Recharge: A Geochemical Compatibility Assessment of Various Water Sources and Co-located Aquifers in the United States
Investigators: Fakhreddine, Sarah , Dahlke, Helen , Scanlon, Bridget R
Institution: Carnegie Mellon University , The University of Texas at Austin , University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2023 through September 30,2024
Project Amount: $1,845,583
RFA: Enhanced Aquifer Recharge Performance and Potential Risk in Different Regional and Hydrogeologic Settings Request For Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors , Aquifer , Aquifer Recharge , Clean Water

Objective:

The overarching objective of this research is to increase adoption of enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) by better understanding the potential mobilization of geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants in key aquifer systems across the US. Specific objectives include: (1) conduct a novel, national site-suitability study focused on assessing geochemical compatibility of various water sources, most notably excess surface water and treated wastewater, with co-located aquifers and (2) translate findings into actionable guidance on project siting, design (e.g., pretreatment), and operations (e.g., monitoring) to reduce the risk of contaminant mobilization.

Progress Summary:

• Completed analysis of excess surface water (high magnitude flows) across the US as potential source water for EAR, including volumes, timing, frequency, and temporal trends in volumes
• Completed analysis of municipal wastewater discharge volumes and trends in volumes using EPA ECHO data
• Projected future municipal wastewater volumes based on county-level projected population growth
• Began gathering surface water quality data and municipal wastewater effluent water quality data for geochemical compatibility analysis
• Quantified groundwater storage depletion using GRACE satellite data for principal aquifers of the US
• Developed maps of soil properties relevant to EAR, including slope, clay content, depth to restrictive layer, and hydrologic soil group
• Reached out to ~75 interested parties to develop participant group including water managers, industry professionals, regulators, and academics with experience in EAR
• Scheduled first annual project webinar which was held in November (shortly after reporting period) to introduce project and establish participant working group

Future Activities:

• Synthesize surface water quality and evaluate relationships with high magnitude flows
• Complete analysis of timing of peak municipal wastewater discharges
• Complete analysis of municipal effluent wastewater quality based on discharge monitoring reports
• Combine groundwater storage satellite data products with regional monitoring and modeling data of groundwater levels
• Implement methodology for geochemical compatibility analysis beginning with regional test case before scaling to entire study area
• Convert results of source water availability, physical suitability, and water quality considerations into scores for multicriteria decision analysis
• Host second project webinar with group of interested parties
• Launch project site to be hosted on GWPC website
• Onboard postdoc researcher to support geochemical compatibility analysis
• Create draft design for web map tool
• Develop outline for deliverables including technical report and guidance document

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 5 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

reuse, treatment, arsenic, nitrate, stormwater, sustainable water management, water resources