The NGWA document Best Suggested Practices for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) was recently updated by a consensus of groundwater professionals from around the country.
The new document was a revision of one first prepared in 2014 and was approved by the NGWA Board of Directors in June.
BSPs are not a standard but identify practices that have demonstrated superior results. The BSP on ASR is intended to foster the conceptualization, planning, and implementation of an aquifer storage and recovery project primarily using potable source drinking water.
Aquifer storage and recovery is defined as the injection of water into a well for storage in the aquifer and subsequent recovery from the same well. As the effects of intense groundwater demand in water-short areas and from extreme weather resulting in extended drought impact communities around the country, ASR offers a cost-effective alternative water supply supplement.
The updated BSP utilizes a new outline and has changes in all the sections. Some of the highlights of the changes include:
- A new section on “Early Consultation with Regulatory Agencies” to support getting started with the right steps including considering geochemistry compatibility early in the process and the significance of starting with a demonstration and moving to project expansion
- Components of an ASR system separated into downhole and above ground components
- A section on well design and construction now includes the addition of subsurface characterization of wireline coring, geophysical logging, and well development
- Expanded coverage of monitoring frequency in response to regulatory concerns
- Regulatory requirements that address the recent concern by state agencies of storage retention related to virus die-off
- “Future Directions for ASR” is a new section to apprise readers of conditions and factors that they should be aware of and check into as the field continues its rapid development including directionally drilled wells, using combinations of ASR technologies, energy storage, well pairing for storage and treatment, ASR wellfield protection, improved understanding of subsurface processes and different hydraulic characteristics
- A case studies section references key ASR documents and publications.
NGWA has published 19 BSPs that are free to NGWA members. See a list of all NGWA’s BSPs.