An Assessment of Aquifer Storage Recovery for Selected Generic Hydrogeologic Settings in Wisconsin

Background/Need: Owing to increased demand on groundwater accompanied by increased drawdown in water levels, emerging technologies, such as aquifer storage recovery (ASR), are being used in the State of Wisconsin to optimize available water resources and reduce adverse effects of pumping. ASR is defined as the injection and storage of water in a suitable aquifer when demand is low and recovery from the aquifer when demand increases. ASR reduces the effects of peak demand on an aquifer by supplementing water in storage in the aquifer when demand is low. An ASR pilot facility in Green Bay, Wis., was recently closed owing to concerns over mobilization of arsenic. An ASR facility in Oak Creek, Wis., near Milwaukee, has gone through several test cycles and is awaiting final approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Another facility is contemplated for the City of Waukesha.

Objectives: The objectives of this research were to: (1) investigate the hydraulic controlling factors on ASR as they relate to the amount of water that can be recovered, i.e., the recovery efficiency, in selected representative hydrogeologic settings in Wisconsin; (2) develop a methodology using numerical flow and transport models whereby the hydraulics of ASR systems can be investigated.