Department Water Resources and Drinking Water

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) supports drinking water supply but requires robust monitoring and risk assessment. This project develops and applies real-time and scientific methods to evaluate MAR performance and safety. An online, real-time approach assesses artificial recharge and groundwater abstraction during operation. Environmental tracers, including on-site helium and ³H/³He apparent ages, identify flow processes and contaminant transport. Model-based pathway analysis quantifies groundwater pathways under uncertainty using null-space Monte Carlo simulations. Together, these methods link operations, flow dynamics, and contaminant risks at relevant spatial scales. Microplastics research extends the framework to emerging contaminants along the MAR treatment train. Outcomes support evidence-based decisions for utilities and regulators, improving groundwater protection and resilient water supply.