Potential Use of Aquifer Storage

(and Recovery) as a Tool for

Stormwater Management and

Stream Restoration

Jason Melady, RG, CWRE, Senior Hydrogeologist

GSI Water Solutions

GSI WATER SOLUTIONSPORTLAND, OR – KENNEWICK, WA – CORVALLIS, OR – BEND, OR – SANTA BARBARA, CA

www.gsiwatersolutions.com

Overview

► What is ASR?

► Alternative ASR Concepts

► Feasibility Considerations

► Example Projects

What is ASR?

What is ASR?

What is ASR?

What is ASR?

What is ASR?

What is ASR?

City of Beaverton Water Supply

Beaverton’s ASR Program

ASR Initiated in 1999

3 ASR wells – approximately 500 feet deep

Storage aquifer: Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) - Upper Grande Ronde Basalt

Source water: Treated drinking water

Storage target: 450 million gallons per year

ASR peak supply of 6 million gallons per day (4,200 gallons per minute)

Represents 35% of summer-time peak supply

Recharged and recovered 3.6 billion gallons since 1999

Beaverton ASR Wells

ASR

#1

ASR

#2

ASR

#4

Beaverton ASR SummaryASR Storage target: 450 MG per year

Typically 1 Million Gallon

www.oregonlive.com

Less than 50 Million Gallon

450 Million Gallon Reservoir

Madison Ranches

What is ASR?

Madison Ranches

► 17,000 acre agricultural-farm in eastern Oregon.

► Crops of corn, canola, potatoes, alfalfa, ryegrass,

and wheat.

► Intense groundwater development in the area

has over-drafted the basalt aquifer (500 foot

decline).

► Critical Groundwater Area Declaration by OWRD

in 1990 and curtailed groundwater use.

Madison Ranches

► ASR feasibility assessed in 1993 and initiated in

2006

► 1 ASR Well (1960)– approximately 700 ft deep

► Storage aquifer: Columbia River Basalt Group

► ASR Source water: Seasonally available alluvial

groundwater

► Storage volume: Up to 170 million gallons – more

possible

► Recharge and recovery rate: 1.6 million gallons

per day (1,100 gallons per minute)

Madison Ranches

Madison Ranches

Madison Ranches

GSI Water Solutions

ASR Lessons Learned

12 active ASR projects in Oregon

ASR is capable of storing large quantities of water for

drinking water and irrigation – 1,000’s gpm and 100’s of

million gallons

Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) is an excellent

target aquifer for storage

No negative water quality observations during storage

Recovered water retains quality of recharge water

with some mixing near end of recovery

ASR typically very cost effective relative to other

storage options

Alternative ASR Concepts

Alternative ASR ConceptsThermal Storage and Recovery

Warm noncontact cooling water

storage in summer, recovered for

HVAC in winter

Cold surface water stored in

winter for cooling purposes in the

summer

ASR for Streamflow Enhancement

Cold surface water/alluvial groundwater stored in winter

Recovered in the summer to

increase streamflow and reduce

stream temperature

Alternative ASR ConceptsASR for Water Quality (Temperature)

Mitigation

Cold surface/alluvial groundwater

water stored in winter

Stored water recovered in summer

for blending with effluent or

mitigation

ASR for Stormwater Management

Stormwater stored in winter

Recovered in the summer to use

for irrigation or streamflow

enhancement/mitigation

Temperature Mitigation ASR Concept

Stormwater Recharge Concept

Feasibility Considerations

Feasibility ConsiderationsTemperature Mitigation Concept

Physical Feasibility

Source Water Quality and Quantity

Alluvial groundwater/surface water

Temperature

Groundwater Storage Reservoir

Aquifer capacity

Transmissivity

Static water level

Water quality

Mixing assessment - temperature

Recovered Water Quality

Temperature

Other constituents

Feasibility ConsiderationsTemperature Mitigation Concept

Regulatory Feasibility

Water Rights

Source water

Winter groundwater/surface water

Storage

AR/ASR License – OWRD

UIC - DEQ

Water Quality

Drinking water standards

Surface water treatment

Turbidity – well clogging

Recovery and discharge

Integrated in NPDES permit

Feasibility ConsiderationsStormwater Recharge Concept

Physical Feasibility

Source Water Quality and Quantity

Stormwater

Groundwater Storage Reservoir

Aquifer capacity

Transmissivity

Static water level

Water quality

Mixing assessment

Recovered Water Quality

Temperature

Other constituents

Feasibility ConsiderationsStormwater Recharge Concept

Regulatory Feasibility

Water Rights

Precipitation from impervious

surface is exempt use – no water

right required

Storage

AR/ASR License – OWRD

UIC - DEQ

Water Quality

Determine beneficial use of storage

aquifer-usually drinking water.

Use local stormwater water quality

data with similar land use to assess

potential stormwater quality for

recharge.

Feasibility ConsiderationsStormwater Recharge Concept

Regulatory Feasibility (Continued)

Water Quality (Continued)

Ideal horizontal setbacks – 2-year

time of travel or 500 feet.

Fate and transport modeling to

develop site specific action levels

protective of nearest compliance

point.

If necessary, assess pre-treatment

to meet action levels.

Recovery and discharge

Integrated in NPDES/MS4 permit if

discharged

Use for irrigation based on ASR

license

Example Projects

Aquifer Recharge - Stormwater

Sonoma County, CA

Naples, FL

Australia

SummaryTemperature Mitigation and

Stormwater Recharge ASR Concepts

Utilize storage to offset impact of

wastewater and stormwater

discharge to surface water

Reallocates either a portion of the

surface water (temperature

mitigation) or a portion of the

discharge (stormwater)

Use of ASR has been successful

where geologic conditions are

favorable and has been cost

beneficial

Should be considered for

wastewater and stormwater

management

Questions?