DINA-MAR. PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT OF AQUIFER RECHARGE IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. LINES OF ACTION AND RESULTS

This article aims to disseminate the RESULTS of the two multi-disciplinary and sequential i+R&D projects on MAR carried out over four years in Grupo Tragsa.

The main objective is to determine the best horizon for MAR in Spain (new “MAR zones” with different sources of water and for different uses), taking into account over 80 criteria (the most notable being the aquifers’ storage capacity). It is also worth mentioning the environmental side of MAR from different points of view.

This article describes these action lines and their most remarkable results:

- In hydrogeology, the “classic” facilities for artificial recharge were studied, an inventory was made of 15 traditional schemes plus eight new ones were defined.
- In GIS, a methodology was drawn up that is based on map algebra operations and the adoption of environmental indicators to determine what zones of Spain are apt for MAR operations. Approximately 16% of the Spanish mainland’s territory is suitable for successful operations.
- In environmental planning, a methodology has been designed that is based on six groups of environmental criteria for MAR techniques: Sources of pollution, risks, conditioning factors, demands, tendencies and advantages.
- The determination of the environmental volume flow in supply rivers was studied by hydrological, hydraulic, holistic and methods of habitat simulation.
- In forestry engineering, mediating techniques have highlighted the positive influence of forest masses on the basin headwaters seepage. Civil engineering works are proposed after they have been tested in real cases.
- In urban hydrogeology, MAR facilities are being incorporated into urban areas within the framework of complete water management in building work.
- In agro-hydrology, the quality of effluent from treatment plants is being studied for irrigation.

On the whole, in all the lines of action and the disciplines taken on, it has been seen that the advantages of the MAR technique outweigh the inconveniences, the innovation side must receive more emphasis, and that there are still many gaps in the state of this art.