NRC Study on Underground Water Storage & Upcoming NRC Policy Forum

1. NRC Study on Underground Water Storage& Upcoming NRC Policy Forum Cat Shrier, Ph.D., P.G. Watercat Consulting LLC Committee Member Committee on Sustainable Underground Storage of Recoverable Water Water Science and Technology Board National Research Council March 6, 2008

2. Hydraulics & modeling Hydrogeochemistry Hydrogeology Fate and transport (Microbes/pathogens; Organic & inorganic compounds) Water treatment in situ & water treatment plant technology Monitoring Regulatory issues Water policy and law Economics of water use and quantity Water reclamation and reuse Water-resource operations, management and planning 3-Year Study Completed by Multidisciplinary Committee

3. What Managed Underground Storage is … Aquifer Storage Recovery (Golder Associates) Basin Recharge

4. What Managed Underground Storage is … and is not! Please send better images: cat@watercatconsulting.com

5. Artificial Recharge (AR): intentional banking and treatment of water in aquifers. Artificial Recharge and Recovery (ARR): recharge to and recovery of water from an aquifer, that is, both artificial recharge of the aquifer and recovery of the water for subsequent use. Managed (or Management of) Aquifer Recharge (MAR): intentional banking and treatment of water in aquifers (synonymous with AR). Dry/vadose/drainage well: a well constructed in the interval between the land surface and the top of the static water level and designed to optimize infiltration of water Underground Storage and Recovery (USR): similar to MUS; any type of project whose purpose is the artificial recharge, underground storage, and recovery of project water. Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR): injection of water into a well for storage and recovery from the same well. Aquifer Storage Transfer and Recovery (ASTR): injection of water into a well for storage and recovery from a different well, generally to provide additional water treatment. Sustainable Underground Storage (SUS): How does one define “sustainable?” Groundwater Banking: different from water banks for exchange of water rights Managed Underground Water Storage – even the name is politicized

6. Motivation for MUS • Pressure on freshwater supplies to meet anticipated needs • Need for temporary storage of water during times of abundance and recovering that water in times of need • New storage aboveground is limited • Increased interest in storing water underground as part of a larger water management strategy Widespread use of MUS in United States Add’l pilot/feas studies NOTE: map shows well recharge sites only – use of basin recharge is more extensive

7. Range of Uses, Sources,and Storage Zones Various sources • Surface water • Groundwater • Treated Effluent • Stormwater Nonpotable uses • Industrial • Lawn Irrigation • Irrigation • Habitat Benefits Aquifer types and quality • Sandstone, sands and gravel, limestone, basalt • Freshwater, brackish • Confined, unconfined, alluvial(SW-GW) • Shallow or deep (up to 2750’) • Seismic

8. Management Motivations • Primary Management Objectives • Store water for potable or nonpotable uses • Seasonal storage or long-term drought protection • Emergency storage (hurricanes, floods, fires) • System capacity (water treatment, transmission) • Cost effective use of water infrastructure • Water rights availability and compacts • Industrial uses and produced water • Secondary Management Objectives • Maintain groundwater levels (energy costs) • Native groundwater quality improvements • Prevent seawater intrusion, control plumes • Environmental benefits (direct or “in lieu”)

9. Take-away points • Motivations for using aquifer storage include advantages for both GW management and SW management • Nearly all aquifer storage systems use SW source • Requires understanding of groundwater science and recharge well or basin engineering (see NGWA handout) • Requires understanding of approaches to water planning – language and culture of surface water • Not looking for a “Dillon Reservoir” – disconnect • New metrics and approaches needed

10. Selected Issues Considered by the NRC Committee • “The Technical Chapters” (Chapters 3 & 4) • Ch. 3: Hydrogeological/Geochem. & Engineering Issues • Ch. 4: Water-quality/Public Health Issues • Much of the science/technology is understood or can be addressed with appropriate studies, monitoring, project development approaches • Need better context for system evaluation/regulation • The “Institutional” chapters (Ch. 5, 6, 7) • Ch. 5: Policy, Regulatory, and Economic considerations • Ch. 6: Project Development/Mgmt/Monitoring • Ch. 7: Conjunctive management in a systems context • Much less information or formal study • Communication and education issues

11. Why a forum on these issues? • Same issues appearing for many years (personal experience) • North Carolina, national review for AWWA • Colorado and Alberta • “experimental technology only used in CA and FL” • Some steps taken by regulatory community • AWWA survey on regulatory approaches, ASR-specific regs • Policy makers interest in more GW banking • Congressional Water Congress • Federal resources for policy development, metrics and aquifer characterization, funding and technical support??? • Better access to information, not “reinventing the wheel” for each new project or state, more standardized reg. approaches • Need for coalition, building relationships, pooling resources and information, creating new ways to communicate issues (e.g. indices & model codes), public and policy-maker education, identifying next steps and who will take them

12. ANNOUNCEMENTFORUM MARCH 19, 2008 • All-day forum to be held Wednesday 3/19 at Washington Court Hotel in DC • Intent: Disseminate study findings, stimulate dialogue, identify future study needs • Held in conjunction with GWPC Policy Meeting • Partnerships with NGWA, GRA, GWPC • Sponsorships still being sought(free with voluntary contributions for costs)

13. ANNOUNCEMENTFORUM MARCH 19, 2008 • Overview of Institutional Issues • Regulation of Water Use and Water Rights • “Capacity Use Areas” as well as Water Rights • Watershed Planning • Regulation of Public Health and Environmental Concerns • UIC and sourcewater protection • Reclaimed water, emerging contaminants, etc. • Monitoring and Management • Public perception • Monitoring for regulation vs operations • Monitor at the wellhead? • Economic/Financial Issues and Conjunctive Water Planning in a Systems Context • Life cycle cost analysis • National and regional priorities

14. ANNOUNCEMENTFORUM MARCH 19, 2008 • OVERVIEW BY NRC COMMITTEE MEMBERS • HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY • 6 slots available per topic for 5-minute “statements” • To include sharing of experiences (positive and negative) with MUS as well as raising issues regarding regulations or planning • Roundtable discussions (mixed interests) and breakout groups (same interests) • Webcast may be available??? • BROAD-BASED AUDIENCE – state and federal GW protection and WR agency personnel, water providers, congressional staff, consultants, water organizations • Identify future priorities (NRC and others) • Pre-registration required at www.gwpc.org (look for Annual Policy Meeting)

15. Questions? http://www.nap.edu/ • download 4-page summary, order report http://www.gwpc.org/ • register and get Forum/hotel info Cat Shrier: cat@watercatconsulting.com Will Logan: wlogan@nas.edu