BOARD00363

• Board Meeting Date: 5/24/2004
• Description: Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado - A Statewide Assessment
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado
A Statewide Assessment

Table of Contents

Executive Summary................................................................................................................ ......... i
I. Introduction - Statement of Problem.................................................................................. .1

Scope and Objectives..................... ........................ ....... .................................................... ........ I
Background............................................................................................................................... 3
II. Definitions of Recharge ...................................................................................................... 5
Ill. Objectives of Artificial Recharge ....................................................................................... 7

Manage Water Supply........................................................................................................ ....... 8
Meet Legal Obligations.......................................... ....... ............................................................ 9
ManagelMitigate Water Quality ............................................................................................. 11
Restore/Protect Aquifers.............................................. ........................................................... 12
Protection of the Environment................................. ...................... ................................... ...... 14
IV. Technologies for Artificial Recharge................................................................................ 14

Surface Infiltration........................... ....................................................................................... 15
Subsurface Infiltration ............................................................................................................ 17
Direct Injection ..................................................... ........ ................................................... ....... 19
Modification of Natural Recharge ..........................................................................................22
Underground Water Storage Options......................................................................................22
General AR Technology Design Considerations .................................................................... 23
Table IV-I. Comparisons of Artificial Recharge Technologies ...................................... 24
V. Selected National and International Artificial Recharge Applications............................. 28

NA TrONAL PROJECTS ........................................................................................................ 28
High Plains Aquifer System.............................................................................................. 28

California............................................................. ....................................................... ...... 31
Central Coast Hydrologic Region .................................................................................... 31
Colorado River Hydrologic Region .................................................................................. 31

Arizona. ..... ... ... ... ... .... .............. ........ ... ... ........................ ... .... ..... ... ............ .... .... ... .... ... ....... 32
Florida............................................................. .................................................................. 32
Kansas..................................................................................... .........................:......... ....... 32
Nebraska......................................................... .................................................................. 32
N ew Jersey.......... ....................................................................................................... ....... 33
New york........................................................ .................................................................. 33
Nevada ..................................... ...................... ....... ............................................................ 33
Texas.............................................................. ............................................................ ....... 33
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS ............................................................................................ 33

Austral ia............................................................................................................................ 33
England............................................................................................................................. 34
Germany......................................................... ................................................................... 34
Israel....................................................................................................................... ........... 34
Netherlands.................................................... ................................................................... 34
Sweden........................................................... ........ ........................................................... 34

IV

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