Aquifer Storage & Recovery Projects Utah Water Users Workshop March 18, 2014

Kurt Vest, P.E. Region Engineer

Groundwater Recharge and Recovery Act

• Enacted 1991 General Session

Artificially Recharge

• Place water in an aquifer by means of:– Injection;– Surface infiltration; or– Another method

• For the purpose of:– Storing the water; and– Recovering the water.

Prohibitions

• A person may not artificially recharge an aquifer without first obtaining a recharge permit.

• A person may not recover from an aquifer water that has been artificially recharged unless the person first obtains a recovery permit.

Water Right for Recharged Water

• A person proposing to artificially recharge water into an aquifer must have:– A valid water right for the water proposed to be

recharged; or– An agreement to use the water proposed to be

recharged with a person who has a valid water right.

Recoverable Water

• A person may recover the amount of water stored by the recharge project which:– Has reached the aquifer; and– Remains within the hydrologic area of

influence.

Storage account—Monitoring and reporting required.

• Any person holding a groundwater recharge or recovery permit shall:– Monitor the operation of the project; and– File reports with the state engineer regarding:

• The quantity of water stored and recovered; and• The water quality of the recharged water, receiving

aquifer, and recovered water.