THE PADDOCKS ASR PROJECT

The Problem:

• Availability and cost of water to meet summer irrigation demand

• Urban storm water management and flood control

• Storage and detention of water within an urban setting

• Nutrient and pollution loads in source water

• Depth of suitable aquifer for storage of collected water

The Solution:

The Paddocks was developed with the long-term goal of conjunctive wetland treatment and ASR of stormwater using a confined limestone aquifer. Injection in the 170m deep well at this site is under pressure because of the low hydraulic conductivities.

The Benefits:

• Urban stormwater management

• Conjunctive wetland treatment

• Improvements to local recreational facilities through the establishment of landscaped parks and gardens

• Savings of $20 000 per year to local council on irrigation costs

• Site has been operational since 1996 and stores between 80–100 ML each winter for summer irrigation

• The Challenges:

• Low hydraulic conductivities at the selected site

• Efficiency of wetland treatments to achieve desired water quality

The Innovations:

• Development of pump packer unit to facilitate pressure injection and recovery

• Hydraulic conductivity enhancement through acidisation

• Wetlands pre-treatment