In an era of climate change, clean water and reliable water storage for floods and droughts is a possibility!
Evaluating water storage stability in simulated long-term aquifer storage system over a year. Ensure stable water quality in a simulated aquifer storage system linked to a physical sedimentation process
News Release
National Research Council of Science & Technology
image:
Aquifer Storage Simulation Pilot System Conceptual Diagram / A simulated aquifer storage pilot system combining a physical sedimentation process with a simulated aquifer storage soil column that injects, stores, and retrieves river water at approximately two-week intervals for 13 months.
view moreCredit: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
In recent years, the world has seen a recurrence of extreme floods and droughts due to climate change. In response to this, aquifer storage technology is being used for actual water supply in countries such as the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia. In South Korea, it rains intensively in the summer and extreme rainfall occurs, causing increasing difficulties in water supply in rural areas and island areas other than urban areas. In this situation, aquifer storage technology is attracting attention as a way to stably store and supply water.
Dr. Seongpil Jeong and Kyungjin Cho of the Center for Water Cycle Research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed an aquifer storage technique that could improve the potential for stable water storage.
The injection of surface water into aquifers without proper treatment can be limited by pore clogging caused by microorganisms that feed on organic matter, such as assimilable organic carbon, present in the injected water. The KIST research team had previously shown that assimilable organic carbon in artificial raw water can be reduced by microorganisms under simulated aquifer storage conditions. In this study, the researchers used real river water rather than artificial water to simulate the periodic injection and recovery process of aquifer storage.
The experiment lasted for about 13 months, with river water being injected into a sandy layer in the ground at two-week intervals and the water being withdrawn again two weeks later to observe changes in organic matter and microorganisms over the course of the experiment. The experiment showed that despite seasonal changes in river water, organic matter concentrations in soil organic matter and stored water remained stable, suggesting that a simple physical sedimentation process without chemical treatment maintained stable water quality for a year without pore clogging.
To understand why water quality remains stable in aquifer storage systems, the team investigated changes in the microbiome. They found that the microbiome, which can feed on organic matter present in real river water, changes seasonally. This suggests that the microbes in the aquifer storage system reduced organic matter, preventing pore clogging and contributing to stable water quality.
The experimental techniques used in this study can be used to test domestic aquifer storage sites and propose pretreatment processes for influent conditions, and it is believed that continued analysis of organic matter and microorganisms will be necessary for the stable operation of aquifer storage systems in the future. In addition, water quality assessment of the recovered water and appropriate pretreatment processes are needed to ensure that the system is stable.
"This research contributes to the stable operation of aquifer storage technology, which is being utilized as a large-scale water storage technology to address the problem of water supply imbalance," said Dr. Seongpil Jeong and Kyungjin Cho from KIST. "The study of long-term organic matter and microbiome changes in a pilot-scale aquifer simulation system is the first of its kind globally and has potential for future expansion."
Changes in organic matter concentration within the soil column and in the recovered water / Increase in cumulative organic matter bound to sand by location within the soil column and resultant stable organic matter concentration in the recovered water
Microbiome changes in a soil column / Changes in the microbiome (microbial community) inside the soil column. Visualization of the change in dominant microorganisms inside the soil column during the operation period (13 months).
Credit
Korea Institute of Science and Technology
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KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/
This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Yoo Sang-im) under the KIST Institutional Program and Climate Change Impact Minimization Technology Development Project (2020M3H5A1080712). The results of this research were published in the latest issue of the international journal, Chemical Engineering Journal (IF 13.3, JCR field 3.1%).
Journal
Chemical Engineering Journal
Article Title
Comprehensive assessment for the seasonal variations of organic compounds and core soil microbiome in the simulated pilot-scale aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system
Addressing global water security challenges: New study reveals investment opportunities and readiness levels
NEW YORK, September 27, 2024 – Water scarcity, pollution, and the burden of waterborne diseases are urgent issues threatening global health and security. A recently published study in the journal Global Environmental Change highlights the pressing need for innovative economic strategies to bolster water security investments, focusing on the “enabling environment” that influences regional readiness for new business solutions.
Initiated and led by researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC), the study utilizes a comprehensive set of geographical data — including climate, digital river networks, and human water usage patterns — to pinpoint areas at risk for water insecurity and potential conflict. The researchers discovered striking disparities in readiness across the globe, indicating varying capacities to address these critical challenges.
“We found that 71% of the world’s population has high existing water security needs, and after evaluating the potential for private investments, we found that 64% of the global population could benefit from these efforts,” said Charles Vörösmarty, principal investigator and founding director of the Environmental Sciences Initiative at the CUNY ASRC.
The study also revealed that 81% of identified investment opportunities are located in middle-income countries, while many low-income nations face significant barriers to making these essential investments and will likely need to depend on public financing and international aid to address water insecurity.
A recent United Nations report indicates that 80% of all nations are experiencing shortfalls in the financing necessary to meet their water supply and sanitation needs. Projections estimate that demand for water infrastructure and services could require investments amounting to several trillions of dollars by 2030.
“This research underscores that successful water investments hinge not just on addressing immediate water needs, but also on strengthening the governmental and societal frameworks that facilitate private sector engagement,” said lead author Pamela Green, principal water and climate scientist at TerraBlue Science LLC.
As water security continues to emerge as a critical global challenge, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers, businesses, and investors seeking to develop effective public-private partnerships aimed at delivering sustainable water solutions.
The interdisciplinary team behind this study includes experts from the CUNY ASRC, TerraBlue Science LLC, University of Massachusetts, Harvard Extension School, GIZ GmbH, and the United Nations Environment Program-Finance Initiative.
About the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center
The Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) is a world-leading center of scientific excellence that elevates STEM inquiry and education at CUNY and beyond. The CUNY ASRC’s research initiatives span five distinctive, but broadly interconnected disciplines: nanoscience, photonics, neuroscience, structural biology, and environmental sciences. The center promotes a collaborative, interdisciplinary research culture where renowned and emerging scientists advance their discoveries using state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge core facilities.
Journal
Global Environmental Change
Method of Research
Meta-analysis
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Mapping a sustainable water future: Private sector opportunities for global water security and resilience
Article Publication Date
27-Sep-2024
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