In artificial groundwater recharge, excess water is fed into the aquifer via injection wells, from which it can also be extracted again as needed. Credit: Dr. Ata Joodavi
We can circumvent this problem by constructing deep injection wells. The excess water is fed into the aquifer through the wells, from where it can then be extracted again as needed. In this way, we contribute to groundwater recharge on the one hand and to fundamental water security on the other.
How realistic is the use of such technologies in Berlin and Brandenburg?
With regard to the feasibility of MAR, it should first be noted that the storage of water in the aquifer is legally permissible in principle, but requires official approval. Approval is subject to strict water law regulations and is linked to the requirement for chemical water treatment. In Berlin and Brandenburg, we are often faced with a lack of responsibility.
What does your research mean in concrete terms—will we have to use water more sparingly in the future?
The scale of the water problem is too great to be solved by water conservation in private households and garden irrigation alone. Our research first provides spatially and temporally high-resolution forecasts for the occurrence of water scarcity. This enables water managers in water-intensive sectors such as industry and agriculture to adjust their water resource planning at short notice. The second pillar of our research is storage. It's not just about using water wisely, but also about using what we have available as efficiently as possible.