Fate of organic matter during aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) of reclaimed water in a carbonate aquifer

Understanding the fate of injected organic matter and the consequences of subsequent redox processes is essential to assess the viability of using reclaimed water in aquifer storage and recovery (ASR). A full-scale field trial was undertaken at Bolivar, South Australia where two ASR cycles injected approximately 3.6 × 105 m3 of reclaimed water into a carbonate aquifer over a 3-a period. Organic C within reclaimed water was predominantly in the dissolved fraction, ranging from 1 to 2 mmol L−1 (10–20 mg L−1), markedly higher than potable supply and stormwater previously reported as source waters for ASR. Between 20% and 24% of the injected dissolved organic C (DOC) was mineralised through reaction with injected O2 and NO3. Furthermore, this was achieved mainly within the first 4 m of aquifer passage. Despite the presence of residual DOC, SO4 reduction was not induced within the bulk of the injected plume. It was only near the ASR well during an extended storage phase where deeply reduced (methanogenic) conditions developed, indicating variable redox zones within the injectant plume. The quality of water recovered from the ASR well indicated that the organic C content of reclaimed water does not restrict its application as a recharge source for ASR.