Practical Management to Minimize the Effects of Clogging in Managed Aquifer Recharge Wells at Two Sites in the Guadiana Basin, Spain
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 3
Abstract
According to the experiments performed by the Tragsa Group and in the framework of the research and development Depth Investigation of New Areas for Managed Aquifer Recharge (DINA-MAR) Project, which relates to the management of aquifer recharge in the context of sustainable development, researchers studied clogging in managed aquifer recharge (MAR) facilities in two demonstration sites within the Guadiana Basin in central Spain. The author focused on the detection and distribution of physical (including air), chemical, and biological clogging processes in 25 wells and bores. Several of these sites have been in operation since 1988. The most remarkable detected processes were algae colonies and the combination of carbonate and iron. Synergistic combinations among the different elements have been studied by means of clogging and water sampling, field and laboratory analysis, field photographs, and down-hole videos. These studies were performed at two experimental sites in a permanent development in which new designs and their infiltration capacity and evolution are being investigated. Several outcomes relating to the infiltration capacity of these wells are presented in this paper. Results from both sites were used to implement a practical methodology that improves current well designs and utilizes two devices to clean and maintain injection wells and bores. This paper also outlines several practical recommendations and protocols for the management of MAR wells. These recommendations establish parameters for MAR wells considering various processes, such as single groundwater extraction, pretreatment filters, backwashing frequency, and cleaning methods.
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Acknowledgments
This study was performed and written within the framework of research and development DINA-MAR project, www.dina-mar.es, code 30/13.053, financed by Tragsa Group, and with help of the Guadiana Water Basin Authorities (CHG). Special thanks to Stephanie H. Urióstegui (University of California, Santa Barbara California) and Esther Fernández (Madrid, Spain) for revising the English version and to three anonymous reviewers and an editor for their thoughtful and demanding reviews.
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 3 • March 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 26, 2014
Accepted: Jun 13, 2014
Published online: Aug 6, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 6, 2015
Published in print: Mar 1, 2015
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