ASCE Publishes Standard Guidelines for Managed Aquifer Recharge

Stephanie Moore, PG, Senior Hydrologist at DBS&A and affiliate team member Doug Bartlett, RG, CHG, of Clear Creek Associates, are contributing authors of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Environmental and Water Resources Institute (ASCE/EWRI) recent publication, Standard Guidelines for Managed Aquifer Recharge [MAR] (69-19). MAR refers to the recharge of aquifers using infiltration basins, vadose zone wells, injection wells, and other methods, including aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells. MAR has become a widely used tool for the management of sustainable water supplies, particularly in the desert Southwest.

In 2005, the ASCE/EWRI formed the Guideline Development Subcommittee for MAR to “…provide a thorough and up-to-date document that describes the state of the practice for MAR projects.” The Guidelines were “…designed to meet the needs of water resources planners and stakeholders during the initial evaluation and planning phases, and the needs of engineers, hydrologists, and other professionals for standardization of MAR practices from conceptualization to operation.”

According to Ms. Moore, “From our work with MAR projects around the Southwest, Doug and I understood the value of MAR as a conjunctive management tool that provides increased resiliency to water resources managers. However, the existing guidelines were outdated. We worked with our fellow contributing authors to provide an up-to-date, comprehensive document to facilitate the implementation of successful MAR projects in the U.S.” Topics covered in the publication include:

  • Groundwater Fundamentals and Occurrence
  • Managed Aquifer Recharge Concepts
  • Planning
  • Design and Testing
  • Construction
  • Operations and Maintenance of MAR Facilities
  • Facility Closure
  • Data Collection and Analysis

DBS&A and Clear Creek, who are affiliate companies through their ownership by Geo-Logic Associates, are regional experts and pioneers in MAR project implementation. Click here to learn more about DBS&A’s MAR expertise. MAR expertise we offer includes:

  • Project siting
  • Permitting
  • Feasibility studies
  • Site characterization
  • Monitoring program design and implementation
  • Recharge and ASR well design
  • Engineering design, bidding and contracting assistance, and construction oversight
  • Hydraulic performance testing
  • Water quality assessments and geochemical analysis
  • Groundwater flow and water quality modeling

Several case studies in the ASCE/EWRI publication feature DBS&A and Clear Creek projects, including:

Click here to learn more about the Standard Guidelines for Managed Aquifer Recharge (69-19).