Artifical Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado

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Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado A Statewide Assessment hydraulic control of injected water in carbonate cave systems presents an engineering hurdle. Land ownership, environmental issues, and access to the cave systems are also critical considerations. General AR Technology Design Considerations Each type of AR technology comes with its own set of efficiency considerations, advantages, and disadvantages, as well as potential benefits that must be considered to make an informed system design. Considerations include (1) project objectives, (2) hydrogeologic conditions of the site, (3) source water considerations, (4) available land surface area and land -use patterns, (5) capital cost to construct, (6) operation and maintenance (O &M) costs, and (7) general storage efficiency issues such as evaporation losses. Table IV -1 lists advantages and limitations of each technology and provides examples of applications in Colorado. One of the most compelling advantages of incorporating AR in a water management plan is adaptability. AR can be installed in a phased manner that can translate to vastly reduced costs. Design can be modified as phases progress based on experience, advances in technology, and changes in objectives. This is in sharp contrast to many surface -water storage facilities that may need to be constructed for full capacity at completion. Additional benefits of using AR as part of a water supply utility include the following: • Maximizing use of infrastructure during periods of low demand — Water treatment and distribution systems are designed to meet peak demands. During periods of low demand, which often correspond to periods of high supply of the natural water resource, these infrastructure facilities are underutilized. The infrastructure can be utilized during periods of low demand to implement AR. • Enhance well -field production — Implementation of AR and restoration of ground- water levels allows wells to produce at higher rates during peak demand months. The injection and recovery cycles in ASR wells can even increase well development for greater well efficiency. • System capital cost deferral — Implementation of AR produces more efficient use of existing water system treatment and conveyance capacity throughout the year and life of the facility, which means that expansion of water facilities can be deferred and downsized with substantial cost savings. • Maintain distribution system pressure — Recovery of stored water in conjunction with small elevated or ground storage tanks can alleviate seasonal low pressure issues during peak demand months. • Commercial /industrial temperature control — Seasonal source water temperature variability can be mitigated by recovering and blending AR water to meet process temperature control requirements such as fish hatcheries or industrial cooling. 23