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AQUIFER STORAGE & RECOVERY Water & Wastewater Commission | June 8, 2022 AGENDA 1 Welcome 2 About Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) 3 ASR Project Timeline 4 Update on Work To Date 5 Next Steps ABOUT ASR: PROJECT BACKGROUND Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) is a water supply strategy to store available water for recovery and use when we need it most. Other cities around the US and here in Texas are already using ASR systems, including San Antonio, El Paso, and Kerrville. ABOUT AQUIFERS • Aquifers are layers of rock or sediment below the ground that can hold large amounts of water • Groundwater is water held underground in the sediment or in rock pores. • The ASR project will not remove more water than was stored. ABOUT ASR: PROJECT BACKGROUND ASR is part of the Austin City Council- approved Water Forward plan, which provides a roadmap for Austin’s water future for the next 100 years. In 2021, Austin Water (AW) began a study to determine if aquifers in our region are suitable for AW’s ASR project. ABOUT ASR: HOW IT WORKS • When water supplies are plentiful, available water from Austin’s drinking water system is pumped into an aquifer underground. • Treated, potable water is stored in the aquifer until it is needed. ABOUT ASR: HOW IT WORKS • When Austin’s regular water supply becomes low, stored water can be pumped out of the aquifer • Stored water is tested and treated before delivered to customers. ABOUT ASR: PROJECT BENEFITS Aquifer Storage and Recovery will make Austin’s water supply more resilient through climate change and droughts. An ASR system can store large amounts of water with minimal disturbance to the land above the aquifer. Water stored in an ASR system would be available under Austin’s existing water rights, allowing Austin to maximize local water resources. Storing water underground in a natural aquifer prevents the high evaporative losses that reservoirs experience in a warm climate. Storing water in a natural aquifer is more cost effective than other similarly sized water storage options. An ASR system could provide a second source of water supply during emergencies. ABOUT ASR: PROJECT TIMELINE 2021-2023 Identify locations for testing and possible projects 2028-2035 Design and construction of full-scale ASR project 2024-2027 Conduct field testing and small-scale project testing to develop recommendations for a full-scale ASR project We are here INITIAL SCREENING Major aquifers INITIAL SCREENING Minor aquifers INITIAL STORAGE ZONE SCREENING RESULTS Bastrop CW-Simsboro CW-Carrizo NT-Hosston NT-Hosston CW-Carrizo CW-Simsboro County Aquifer-Aquifer Subunit Screening Result # of wells for 2040 yield Permitting Score Hydro Score Travis NT-Hosston 116 60% 74% 100 105 61 55 93 50 130 2 75 11 134 119 0 1 Lee Travis Hays Hays Travis Hays Williamson NT-Hosston Hays Edwards BFZ Blanco Ellenburger - San Saba Burnet Ellenburger - San Saba Edwards BFZ Hickory Edwards BFZ Edwards BFZ TrinHC - Middle Trinity 123 Moving forward to Task 4.5 for further analysis. Specific subunits for Task 4.5 include the Carrizo-Wilcox Carrizo, CW-Simsboro, and NT-Hosston units in Bastrop County. Moving forward to Task 4.5 for further analysis. Subunits for Task 4.5 include the Northern Trinity Hosston unit, CW- Simsboro, and CW-Carrizo units in Lee County. Moving forward to Task 4.5 for further analysis. Subunits for Task 4.5 include the Northern Trinity Hosston unit in Travis County. Lower permitting score and higher number of wells needed. Lower hydro/permitting score than other options. Lower hydro score than other options. Lower hydro/permitting score than other options. Lower hydro score and higher number of wells needed. Lower hydro score and higher number of wells needed. Lower hydro/permitting score than other options. Lower hydro/permitting score than other options. Lower hydro/permitting score than other options. 84% 82% 78% 77% 76% 76% 50% 25% 79% 51% 84% 82% 31% 52% 58% 77% 77% 76% 71% 71% 77% 79% 74% 68% 67% 65% 65% 64% 61% 59% 58% 54% Blanco Ellenburger - San Saba 138 Lower hydro score and higher number of wells needed. INITIAL STORAGE ZONE SCREENING RESULTS Legend: Major Aquifers: ASR PHASE 1A NEXT STEPS Detailed spatial analysis to identify potential piloting locations for evaluation Evaluate potential locations using criteria and weightings informed by community input Recommend a location for further field testing and piloting Continue community engagement and equity efforts throughout the process QUESTIONS? • AustinTexas.gov/ASR • SpeakUpAustin.org/ASR ASR video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM203bvnUv8