The development of a managed aquifer recharge project with recycled water for Chihuahua, Mexico

Adriana Palma Nava,Fernando J González Villarreal,Angélica Mendoza Mata

doi:10.1007/s40899-018-0234-8

Abstract

The groundwater supply of the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, is currently unsustainable: demand exceeds replenishment in this area of relatively low precipitation and periodic droughts. The Chihuahua basin hydrologic analysis reflects only two areas of opportunity to increase water supply: water reuse and managed aquifer recharge with treated wastewater. This paper presents the results of project studies carried out by the Institute of Engineering of the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México—National Autonomous University of Mexico) to define the best method for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) with treated wastewater and to identify suitable locations. The work was conducted in accordance with the Mexican guidelines for aquifer recharge with treated wastewater (NOM-014; CONAGUA NOM-014-Requisitos para la recarga artificial de acuíferos con agua residual tratada, 2007) and includes geophysical surveys and unsaturated zone modeling to design a pilot test for intermittent infiltration which will subsequently inform the feasibility and design of a large scale system to recharge 25 Mm3/year.

Highlights

The city of Chihuahua is located in northern Mexico at an elevation of 1500 m above sea level with a population of 930,000, which is growing at a rate of more than 2%
Water enters through an existing secondary channel that is derived from the main channel of the treated effluent of the South” WWTP (SWWTP)
The application of the Mexican Guidelines for aquifer recharge with treated wastewater (NOM-014) at Chihuahua City demonstrates a logical approach to water quality protection of an aquifer under threat of depletion

Summary

Introduction

The city of Chihuahua is located in northern Mexico at an elevation of 1500 m above sea level with a population of 930,000, which is growing at a rate of more than 2%. It is estimated that 9 Mm3 of the leaked water is lost due to evaporation, 22 Mm3 returns to the sewer system and 18 Mm3 becomes unintentional recharge to the Chihuahua-Sacramento aquifer (Fig. 1). 35 Mm3 of treated wastewater is currently used for irrigating 3100 ha of open space located mainly along the riverbanks of the Chuvíscar River (an application rate of 1.13 m/year), and 7 Mm3 are used for watering city parks and gardens. 30 Mm3 of treated wastewater remain unallocated for potential future managed aquifer recharge to help supplement city water supply. This water is discharged to the river. There would need to be assurances that this could be done safely, sustainably and economically

Methods

Findings

Conclusion