Role of Hydrogeological Factors on Aquifer Storage and Recovery Performance in Saline Groundwater Regions
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 150, Issue 1
Abstract
Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is a potential solution to growing global freshwater insecurity. However, the performance of ASR in saline regions depends on regional hydrogeology and groundwater salinity level. Hydrogeological factors, e.g., hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic gradient, aquifer thickness, aquifer heterogeneity, and hydrodynamic dispersivity, affect freshwater recovery efficiency (RE) prominently along with the groundwater salinity. Therefore, a site feasibility analysis for ASR based on the prevailing hydrogeological conditions is required for its successful operation. This study investigates the influence of these hydrogeological parameters and groundwater salinity level on the performance of ASR. Findings from previous field studies were reviewed, grouped, and analyzed systematically for each hydrogeological factor independently and in combination to understand their influence on RE. The interdependency of the effects caused by each factor is also analyzed. The results show that higher freshwater recovery can be achieved at sites offering moderate hydraulic conductivity, low hydraulic gradient, low hydrodynamic dispersivity, thinner aquifers, and low groundwater salinity. The overall findings of this meta-analysis will help in synthesizing information for site hydrogeological conditions to aid in the decision-making process for ASR application in saline groundwater regions.
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Data Availability Statement
Data obtained from considered literature studies for various hydrogeological factors are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
We thank Prof Alison Parker (Cranfield University) and Ms. Anuradha Garg (Ph.D. Student, IIT Roorkee) for their assistance in writing and for providing valuable suggestions. The first author is thankful to the Ministry of Education, India, for providing fellowship to conduct his Ph.D. Research. He also acknowledges the support by British Council, UK, and IIT Roorkee, India, for Newton Bhabha fellowship, enabling him to visit Cranfield University, UK, and make progress on this paper. The authors are thankful to the Department of Science and Technology, India, for supporting this research under the Water Technology Initiative Project Grant (DST/TMD/EWO/WTI/2K19/EWFH/2019/334) entitled “An Efficient Aquifer Storage Method for Enhanced Recovery of Recharged Freshwater in Saline Regions.”
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 150 • Issue 1 • January 2024
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 10, 2022
Accepted: Jul 27, 2023
Published online: Nov 9, 2023
Published in print: Jan 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Apr 9, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Chemical properties
- Chemistry
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Field tests
- Fresh water
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Groundwater
- Hydraulic conductivity
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic gradients
- Hydraulic properties
- Hydrogeology
- Hydrologic engineering
- Hydrology
- Salinity
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Tests (by type)
- Water (by type)
- Water and water resources
- Water management
- Water storage
- Water supply
- Water supply systems
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