Colorado’s Water Plan discusses Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) as an alternative to surface reservoirs and as a creative solution to more efficient management of water resources. The general term (ASR) gets thrown around a lot, and it includes water storage and recovery in both alluvial and confined aquifers. However, the terms “Contained Subsurface Reservoirs” and “Porosity Storage Reservoirs” are specifically used for storage in alluvial aquifers. Wells are used to inject the water into the aquifer and pump the water out of the aquifer. Deep aquifer technology has already been developed, but the practice of building contained alluvial aquifer storage reservoirs is a relatively new and a highly efficient alternative to storing water in a surface reservoir.

The loss of water in surface reservoirs to evaporation and seepage, which is not recoverable, is no longer being viewed as “the price of business,” but as a major setback. Getting more water for less money, and with less impact to the environment, is a reasonable course of action…one that ASR provides.

Here is a short list of potential benefits of aquifer storage reservoirs:

Increased water yields by eliminating evaporative losses
Improved water quality
Reduced impacts from drought
Low permitting requirements
Conjunctive use of land
Clear dominion and control of the water (depending on the type of ASR)

For more information on ASR and how Martin and Wood can help, get in touch with us today.