Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training Network

Project Information

MARSoluT

Grant agreement ID: 814066

DOI

10.3030/814066

Project closed

EC signature date 29 January 2019

Start date 1 March 2019

End date 28 February 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 2 992 494,24

EU contribution

€ 2 992 494,24

Coordinated by

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADT
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MARSoluT (Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training Network)

Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2023-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The deterioration of groundwater resources due to overexploitation, pollution by industrial or agricultural activities, or seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers is a worldwide reality. The problem will increase due to climate change. At the same time, large water quantities are lost to the oceans as, e.g. surface runoff, river discharge, or discharge of wastewater. These water sources could be used to increase water availability in general, specifically in periods of high demand, and therefore improve water supply resilience. Based on this mismatch between water demand and water availability, the concept of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) was developed. MAR is the active and purposeful recharge of available waters from various sources to aquifers for intermediate storage and subsequent recovery, or for environmental benefit.

The potential of MAR as part of an integrated water management is far from being fully exploited. Reasons for this are research needs that still have to be addressed, e.g. on measures to ensure the sustainability of infiltration rates or to achieve set water quality goals during infiltration. Other reasons are related to insufficient knowledge on the suitability of potential sites, e.g. whether sufficient storage in the subsurface is available and a good recovery can be achieved. Additionally, the operation of MAR sites has to be economically feasible, accepted by the public, and within the legal boundaries set by regulatory agencies. There is also a lack of experts that are able to design, implement, and operate MAR installations successfully, based on a solid knowledge of the physical, biological, and hydrochemical processes that occur at MAR sites, and who can tailor MAR systems for optimized performance.

The objective of MARSoluT was therefore to close knowledge gaps in MAR that are related to the complex processes in the subsurface, to contribute to the optimisation of MAR schemes in technical design and operational success, and through this advance MAR to one of the key technologies to cope with the impact of climatic changes on our water resources.

Another key objective of MARSoluT was training of a group of highly motivated and qualified young professionals (Early Stage Researchers, ESRs) and with this to accelerate market penetration of MAR, creating market opportunities for European industry and SMEs.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The ESRs, recruited after world-wide advertisement of the positions, performed their actual research work in cooperation with their supervisors. Laboratory experiments were performed to study clogging processes, and modelling concepts were develop to predict clogging based on field site information. Soil column and tank experiments were conducted to test the potential of reactive layers on the attenuation of, e.g. pharmaceuticals or nutrients, showing that through sorption and degradation processes a substantial improvement of water quality can be achieved in MAR systems. Using a newly-developed random-walk particle tracking model based on MODPATH it could be shown that applying chaotic flow fields could lead to better attenuation of dissolved pollutants.

Field campaigns were conducted at case study sites for site characterization, soil and water sampling, analyses of the clogging state, upgrading the sites with modern sensors, and monitoring of water infiltration and hydrochemical parameters. Field experiments were performed, for instance for testing a subsurface infiltration system that proved to be more robust against clogging. At a MAR site where seasonal surplus of desalinated seawater is infiltrated to a local aquifer it could be shown that the quality of the infiltrated water can be improved through the subsurface passage, particularly by increase in Mg2+ concentrations which is mainly due to cation exchange.

Hydraulic modelling and reactive transport modelling approaches were used or further developed to support the understanding of the experimental findings. At a case study site in Italy it could be shown that water quality changes occur during drought periods, and that this effect has to be considered in modelling approaches. At a MAR case study site in Greece with extensive agriculture, participatory modelling approaches were followed to analyse the current situation in the area and develop future options. In the case of Malta the developed groundwater model is able to simulate MAR scenarios as preventive measures against seawater intrusion. MAR schemes were studied in Portugal and Spain through upgrading them with various sensors, and by developing models to analyse the effects of the MAR systems on the overall infiltration volumes and their contribution to the integrated water management in the respective regions.

MARSoluT contained a significant training component. Six training workshops and three seasonal schools were performed, adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic situation either as face-to-face meetings or online. As an additional adaptation measure to the Covid-19 situation, a regular online seminar was established serving as a platform to exchange information, experiences and suggestions about MAR in times of restriction in travel and meetings, and can be viewed as a valuable contribution to both the training and the dissemination component of the project.

In its final phase, the project organised the "MAR Con '22 - Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions - International Conference on Current Research Results" in October 2022 in Barcelona. The conference brought together interested parties from universities, research institutes, water authorities, and water companies from a variety of countries to discuss the most recent research on MAR and its application in the frame of an integrated water resources management.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Focussing on a safe and sustainable water resources management strategy, MARSoluT contributes to strengthening European economic performance and competitiveness in the water sector and contributes to key policy objectives and directives that are implemented to secure access to water in good quality and quantity. Through the several field sites that are now in depth characterized with high quality data on design, technologies and performance, references are generated that may serve as blueprints for other potential MAR locations. The ongoing process of generating high quality publications will further increase their visibility and will generate interest in the technologies applied and the MAR concept itself. This visibility is also a prerequisite in generating acceptance for MAR in the public, but also for companies potentially applying MAR as well as for decision makers.

Europe will benefit from the resource of well-trained experts, developing new business opportunities and gaining access to markets within and outside the EU that would otherwise not be easily reached. They can also pursue strategic roles in regulatory and policy arenas related to environmental and water management and sustainable development, at European and international level. It is of ample importance that research as applied in this project generate experts that are acting as multipliers and therefore accelerating market penetration of MAR. MAR is one of the central options to mitigate the effects of climate change on the availability of water and the MARSoluT project and team generated necessary visibility to provide acceptance for this.

Research fellow measures groundwater table level in monitoring well in MARSoluT field site in Italy

Research fellows group learns about vadose zone monitoring installation in Malta