Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is the purposeful recharge of water to aquifers for subsequent recovery or for environmental benefit. MAR supports water supply resiliency. MAR is a well-developed groundwater technology increasingly used
for water security around the world and across the United States.
The NGWA conference Managed Aquifer Recharge: Unleashing Resiliency, Protecting Groundwater Quality takes place September 23–24, 2025, in Denver, Colorado.
Categories of MAR include:
- Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) — injection of water into a well for storage in the aquifer and subsequent recovery from the same well
- Aquifer storage, transfer and recovery (ASTR) — injection of water into a well for storage in the aquifer and recovery from a different well, generally to provide additional water treatment
- Recharge pond or basin — a surface facility, often a large pond, used to increase the infiltration of surface water into a groundwater basin; basins require the presence of permeable soils or sediments at or near the land surface and an unconfined aquifer beneath
- Other MAR Terminology – Click here for a more complete list of MAR terms.
NGWA supports increasing MAR safely and cost-effectively, and has developed a multicomponent initiative highlighting MAR as an important groundwater technology and provide useful information to the industry and well owners.
View MAR contact information specific to your state.
Are you interested in contributing to NGWA’s efforts to promote MAR? Consider joining the Managed Aquifer Recharge Workgroup. Email
mar@ngwa.org for meeting information.