What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is an empty space or layer underground that collects groundwater from rain, or melting snow. It’s made up of porous rock or other sediments, naturally filtering the water and holding it for later use.
What is the purpose of aquifer storage?
The purpose of aquifer storage is to create a cache of water that can be recovered during a drought, a natural disaster, or some other circumstance. Unlike the natural process with rain and snow, aquifer storage requires the purposeful removal of water from another source. For example, if there is an overflow, water can be withdrawn from a local river and stored in an aquifer. Then, if for some reason the river is running low, the saved water can be put to use.
Concerns
Two of the main concerns for this water management method are:
- Water source depletion. There is concern that, in an effort to prepare for some future lack of water, natural water sources will be overused. This could cause damage to the surrounding environment in real time.
- Contamination. As a naturally occurring filtration system underground, aquifers are in constant danger of contamination from things like chemicals, fertilizers, septic tanks and other forms of waste disposal.
So while ASR can be a cost effective method for storing and treating water, it has some unique challenges that make many wonder if it’s a long-term solution.
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