One of the most impactful uses of the Well Water Finders system is to design playa ponds and recharge depleted aquifers. We see a future where landowners are compensated to recharge aquifers so that nearby communities have adequate water supply. Read below to learn more about how our tech can assist with this solution:
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The Well Water Finders patented groundwater location system is very well suited to help determine the best places for designed aquifer recharge. Not only does the technology have the ability to collect both the depth and activity levels of aquifers below the surface down to 5,000 feet, it can also detect sub-terranean layers capable of holding water, and see paths of downward percolation. For implementation of recharge zones, there's one additional metric that needs to be gathered and that is the slope of the ground. Ground slope is important to the harvesting of rainwater without expensive dirt work.
In our example, the system identified the best opportunity for a recharge zone is at Site 4. We also know the elevation using an elevation measuring tool, and we know the average rainfall in this area is approximately 2-ft per year. Now, a pretty standard, one-acre percolation pond/rain harvesting site can be laid out.
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The actual design is fairly flexible, but the key element is getting a slope of at least 3-degrees so that when rain falls, instead of soaking into the ground, it travels to the entry point of an aquifer recharge zone. The size of this zone in the example below is 1-acre.
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This means that, in theory, it will collect approximately 2-acre foot of water each year. However, because the structure is composed of dirt, there will be losses. But, in a high-level estimation, 50% of the rain would be channeled down towards the aquifer. The remaining would be absorbed in the surface of the dirt and eventually evaporated by the sun. This design could give a yield of approximately 325,000 gallons per year (1-acre foot) of refill to the aquifer.
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The Sustainability Impact.
As water levels drop, water well pumps are having to use a lot more energy to pump water to the surface. If by using the Well Water Finders system to accurately design the location for an aquifer recharge zone, thereby preventing aquifer levels from dropping, then there is an overall cost savings to the electric grid. Currently, the estimated energy costs to pump groundwater in the U.S. each year is approximately $3.65 Billion according to the National Groundwater Association. If our technology can help increase water levels by even 5%, it would help reduce energy costs by $182 Million each year.
In addition, consider desalination plants, which run on fossil fuels. If we can use our technology to recharge a depleted aquifer and prevent the need for a desalination plant, then we can help reduce large-scale CO2 emissions.
The Audiences. The Benefits.
| Landowners with insufficient groundwater to support a well |
Helps recharge small pockets of groundwater to a point where water well extraction would be possible. |
| Municipalities |
Helps recharge local aquifers so that local water utilities can support the growing water demands from its citizens without having to pursue more expensive water sources. |
| Farmers |
With appropriate city and county support, there could be programs where farmers are paid to convert unused farm land into aquifer recharge zones. |
| Natural Disaster Support |
Implementing aquifer recharge zones in areas that are prone to wildfires so in the event of an emergency, water resources could be tapped upon demand. |
