This document discusses managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) techniques used in the Middle East region. It provides an overview of MAR/ASR, including definitions, purposes, challenges, and examples from countries like Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. The document concludes that MAR/ASR presents opportunities for Oman based on its existing groundwater recharge dams and treated sewage effluent injection projects in Salalah. Regional knowledge sharing on technical, socio-economic, and regulatory aspects could help advance suitable MAR/ASR approaches.

1. Regional Experiences in
Managed Aquifer Recharge and
Aquifer Storage and Recovery:
An Opportunity also for Oman?
Muscat, Oman
06 May 2013
Ralf Klingbeil
Regional Advisor Environment & Water

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Outline
• Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) –
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
– What is it?
– Why is it applied?
• Challenges
• Examples from the region
• What can be done at regional level?
• MAR / ASR in Oman?

3. What includes
Managed Aquifer Recharge?
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UNESCO, 2005

4. What falls under
Managed Aquifer Recharge?
Human enhanced and managed groundwater recharge
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[with the purpose of later abstraction or use either as a fresh
groundwater resource or as hydraulic barrier against other
threats such as seawater or saline water intrusion].

5. Reasons for
Managed Aquifer Recharge
• Strategic water reserve for emergency situations
• Short-term or seasonal peak demands
• Reducing runoff losses
• Preparation for drought periods / dry years
• Vulnerability of desalination to pollution / algae
• Constant desalination production vs. variable demands
• Recharging / improving brackish groundwater
• Preventing / reversing saltwater intrusion /
controlling salinity upconing
• Injection / infiltration of excess rain / flood waters
• Intermediate storage of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE)
mainly for agriculture or industrial uses
• Avoiding potential evaporation losses from dams
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6. What falls under
Managed Aquifer Recharge?
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International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre, 2007, www.un-igrac.org
Technology
AS(TR)
ASR
Spreading methods
infiltration ponds & basins
flooding
ditch, furrow, drains
irrigation
sand dams
channel spreading
Induced bank infiltration
Well, shaft and borehole
recharge
deep well injection
shallow well/ shaft/ pit infiltration
Sub type
Runoff harvesting
barriers and bunds
trenches
Techniquesreferringprimarilyto
gettingwaterinfiltrated
Techniquesreferring
primarilytointercepting
thewater
In-channel modifications
recharge dams
sub surface dams

7. What includes
Managed Aquifer Recharge?
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UNESCO, 2005
• Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR):
“well/borehole is used for both injection and
recovery, costs are minimised
and clogging is removed during
the recovery cycle.”
• Aquifer Storage Transfer and Recovery
(ASTR):
“Water can be injected into a borehole and
recovered from another, some distance away,
to increase travel time and
benefit from water treatment
capacity of the aquifer”

8. Challenges
• Technological, Scientific
– Groundwater level rise
– Hydrochemical mixing
– System efficiencies
– Health risks
• Socio-Economic Viability
– Investigation of economic alternatives
– System efficiencies
– Social acceptance
• Governance, Regulations
– Laws, regulations and guidelines
– Accountable and transparent decision making
– Participation and constructive criticism
– Advisory bodies with multi-sectoral experiences
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...

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Examples from the Region

10. Bahrain:
Isa Town: Storm Water Runoff
• Unique gravity-fed aquifer recharge
system:
– Gulleys, catch pits, delivery pipes,
oil trap, filter chamber, and
recharge well
– Direct urban storm water flows
from suitable low points to
targeted Khobar aquifer
• Estimated 1,389 m3 recharged
• Water level rise 0.6 m
• Reduced salinity
• Necessity for monitoring potentially
harmful substances (esp. nickel, zinc,
copper)
Al-Noaimi, 2010
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11. Bahrain:
Potential Larger Scale ASR / ASTR
• 1986: TSE recharge to Khobar aquifer
• 2010: Dammam aquifer regional simulation
modeling study
• 2010: Feasibility of groundwater recharge with
TSE
• 2011: National approach to assessing reuse of
TSE and MAR
• Future TSE production:
– 2015: 390,000 m3/day
– 2030: 500,000 m3/day
• Alternative uses:
– More direct TSE reuse in agriculture
– Potential target aquifers: Alat (A) and
Khobar (B), both Dammam formation
– Expected total volume of TSE to be
stored: 24 MCM
Al-Mannai, 2010, MoW, 2011
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12. Jordan:
MAR - Infiltration of Floodwater
• 2012: Cooperation MWI/JOR – BGR/BMZ/GER
– Guideline for assessment and
implementation of Managed Aquifer
Recharge (MAR) in (semi-)arid regions
– Pre-feasibility study for infiltration of
floodwater in Amman-Zarqa and Azraq
basins
• MAR potential map for water availability &
site suitability for two surface water basins
• Limitations:
– Source water availability in regions with
rainfall of less than 200 mm/a
– High sediment load of runoff waters
• Operation and maintenance
• Monitoring
• Assess actual effectiveness
• Increase involvement of local communities Steinel, 2012
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13. Kuwait:
Dammam, Kuwait Group
• 1964: First field tests in Raudhatain
…
• 2002: Numerical modeling of artificial
recharge options for Dammam formation
at pilot recharge site
• 2004: Laboratory investigation compatibility of
desalinated water, RO-treated wastewater
with the Kuwait Group aquifer
• 2010: Selection of suitable sites for artificial
recharge
– Kuwait Group: Mutla, Sulaibiya,
Raudhatain areas
– Dammam Formation: Kabd area
• 2013: Start of KISR pilot project in Kabd,
injecting RO-treated wastewater into
Dammam formation
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Abdel-Jawad/KISR, 2008; Dawoud/EAD, 2005; Mukhopadhyay/KISR, 2010

14. Oman:
TSE Reuse, MAR, Salalah
• Salalah Sanitary Drainage Services Co.: SSDS
• Ownership, management, O&M of current network for
groundwater recharge and future expansions
• No legislation in Oman yet on TSE reuse for aquifer recharge
• Average quantity of treated water
– to recharge wells: 18,090 m3
– to SSDS clients/consumers: 2,680 m3
• 48 recharge wells
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AlQasmi, 2011; Shammas, 2007; Wahaibi, 2011

15. Qatar:
Northern Groundwater Basin, ASR
• 1976: “Artificial recharge with desalted sea water to permit
additional agricultural development appears technically feasible
but its practicability needs to be examined further.” (Vecchioli)
• 1992-1994: Feasibility study for injection of desalinated water in
Rus and Umm er-Radhuma, result positive for both formations
• 2012: QNFSP/KAHRAMAA: Investigation of four sites in northern
groundwater basin to store 30 billion gallons (136 MCM) as long-
term security in the event of an interruption to desalination.
• ASR as two-fold opportunity:
Imperative for utilities to treat wastewater to
tertiary level and TSE available for non-potable
applications such as agricultural irrigation
possibly with intermediate aquifer storage.
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Dawoud/EAD, 2009; MEED, 2012; Streetly, 1998; Vecchioli/USGS, 1976

16. United Arab Emirates:
Nizwa, Sharjah: 1st Operational ASR
• 2001-2002 feasibility study
• 2003-2004 pilot project
• ASR to replace seasonal peak load capacity
• Site characterization and evaluation,
geophysics, trial boreholes, monitoring network
• Hydrochemical modeling: Mixing of injected RO
product (250 µS/cm) and native groundwater
• Pilot project: Cycles of injection - storage -
recovery, currently in >10th cycle,
• 4th Cycle: 24,700 m3 over 26 days injection, 30
days storage, 23,400 m3 over 19 days recovery,
system efficiency 95% recovery of injected water,
cost efficiency 10% of equivalent surface storage
• Planned for 400 MIG (1.8 MCM)
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SEWA, 2009

17. United Arab Emirates:
Liwa, Abu Dhabi: large scale ASR
• 2003-2005 feasibility study
• 2006-2009 pilot project
• 2010-2013 construction of “Strategic Water
Storage and Recovery Project (SWSR)”
• Planned for 23 MCM of surplus desalinated
seawater
• Emergency water supply for Abu Dhabi up to
three months at 40 MIG/d (181,800 m3/d)
• Extensive site characterisation, shallow
aquifer system, semi-consolidated Aeolian
dune sands
• When completed: Benchmark for water
management in arid regions
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Koziorowski, 2012 ; Wolke, 2011

18. What can be done at Regional Level?
• Technical and scientific challenges
to make any MAR schemes successful.
• Socio-economic aspects
have to take a greater role in overall assessment stages
and require close interaction between economists,
engineers, social and natural scientists.
• Regional knowledge exchange
on technical, scientific, socio-economic and regulatory
approaches for MAR.
• Exchange visits
between countries; developing staff capacities and
learning networks.
• Advisory bodies
with experts from different sectors and countries.
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19. MAR / ASR:
An Opportunity also for Oman?
• Yes!
• In fact:
– MAR by groundwater recharge dams, and
– AS(R) by TSE injection in Salalah
is already being implemented
• MAR:
Oman has great experience in groundwater recharge
dams, also for knowledge transfer to other countries and
regions
• ASR:
Oman may wish to join regional exchanges for knowledge
sharing and development of appropriate approaches
2 May 2013 www.escwa.un.org 19

20. Regional Experiences in
Managed Aquifer Recharge and
Aquifer Storage and Recovery:
An Opportunity also for Oman?
Muscat, Oman
06 May 2013
Ralf Klingbeil
Regional Advisor Environment & Water