A European Initiative to Define Current Research Needs in Managed Aquifer Recharge

G. Grützmacher a*, A. Kneppers b, C. Kazner c, H. Zojer d
a KompetenzZentrum Wasser Berlin, Germany: gesche.gruetzmacher@kompetenz-wasser.de
b Schlumberger Water Services, akneppers@slb.com
c RWTH Aachen, christian.kazner@avt.rwth-aachen.de
d Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, hans.zojer@joanneum.at
* Corresponding author.

Abstract The Water Supply and Sanitation Technology (WssTP) was developed by the
European Water Industry, open to all stakeholders, with the objectives to enhance the competitiveness
of the European Water Industry, to contribute to the sustainability of Europe, to
address the challenges of water management in Europe and to support initiatives relevant to
the Millennium Development Goals. Within different pilot programmes (e.g. “Urban Areas”,
“Coastal Zones”) of the WssTP Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) was identified as a topic
of interest and area relevant for further research. For this reason a Task Force on MAR was
initiated with 36 representatives from European research institutes and industry partners with
participation of few international experts. During a workshop conducted in Graz in June 2009
these experts developed the basis for a report that has now been submitted to the European
Commission for consideration in future research calls.

In the report MAR was identified as a possible countermeasure against degradation of
groundwater resources, that has the potential to be implemented further world wide. Although
not generating “new” water resources, it enables the use of alternative resources that would
not be used otherwise (e.g. storm-water, re-cycled water) for drinking water and irrigation by
buffering high variations in availability and demand and by acting as an additional
purification step. Recharged water can also act as an hydraulic barrier to prevent saltwater
intrusion or the spreading of contaminated groundwater and inhibit a regional decrease of
groundwater tables to achieve the goals of the related EU directives. Research needs were
identified in the field of defining “Best Management Practices” and standards for MAR in
Europe, modelling for transparent feasibility assessment and the investigation of MAR in
karstic aquifers.

The paper shall summarize the results of the MAR Task Force initiative to inform the
international MAR community and initiate discussion on the international relevance of the
identified research needs.

Keywords: managed aquifer recharge, state of the art, research needs, groundwater
management, Europe