Water Crisis: Bank Filtration and Aquifer Storage Recharge Systems as Possible Alternatives

Abstract

Riverbank filtration (RBF) is a simple yet effective treatment technology that uses the natural soil and aquifer media to remove various pollutants from river water during induced infiltration of river water to pumping wells. However, RBF may not be capable of fully removing chemicals of emerging concern such as personal care products, household chemicals, and pharmaceutically active compounds. As a result, additional treatment systems may be needed. Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) may be one of the options to further improve water quality. In other instances, advanced oxidative treatment of the bank filtrate prior to ASR may also further improve quality. In RBF–ASR coupled systems, bank filtrate is again injected into the aquifer, stored, and then pumped out. A major application for coupling RBF and ASR is to store water to meet peak demands. This is applicable in developed and developing countries to cope with high demand during droughts.