Adelaide

The volume reported in the water accounting statement (7,300 ML) represents water artificially injected into aquifers as part of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) schemes. Many of these schemes are council operated and involve treating stormwater through constructed wetlands and storing the treated water in aquifers (SMA 2009; OWS 2010).

Data source

South Australian Department for Water (DFW), Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board (AMLRNRMB): unpublished data.

Data provider

South Australian Department for Water.

Method

DFW, EPA and AMLRNRMB have collected data on MAR and ASR schemes in the Adelaide region operational in 2010. The ‘typical annual injection volumes’ for each scheme has been used to estimate the volume of artificial groundwater recharge in 2009–10.

Uncertainty

Ungraded.

Assumptions, approximations and caveats/limitations

This method is based on the following assumptions:

• The ‘typical annual injection volumes’ from the unpublished data represent the actual volume injected in 2009–10.
• There were no significant MAR and ASR schemes in the Western Mount Lofty Ranges, which is outside the extent of the unpublished data.
• Small or unreported MAR and ASR schemes were not significant.