Direct recharge injection of underground water reservoirs

Abstract

An underground porosity water storage reservoir minimizes the impacts on surface uses of the reservoir site. Furthermore, a method of operating an underground porosity storage reservoir minimizes damage to the reservoir due to injecting sediment-laden water or water that is chemically incompatible with the porous material in the underground reservoir. The underground porosity water storage reservoir reduces temperature impacts on surface waters due to the discharge of stored water. A method of using the porosity storage reservoir to minimize adverse temperature impacts when discharging water to a surface body is disclosed.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method for storing water in an underground reservoir filled with a porous material, the underground storage reservoir including an underground vessel formed by one or more substantially water-impermeable, man-made barriers and an aquiclude, the vessel defining a volume such that the volume is substantially hydrologically separate from an environment exterior to the volume, the method comprising:
 (a) accessing a first subsurface body of water outside of the underground reservoir;   (b) determining if the first body of water is compatible with the material in the underground reservoir; and   (c) if the first body of subsurface water is determined to be compatible, extracting water from the first body of water and introducing the extracted water into the underground reservoir.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the determining step further comprises:
 testing water from the first subsurface body of water for compatibility with the porous material in the underground reservoir, if the first subsurface body of water was not previously stored in a material chemically and physically compatible to the porous material in the underground reservoir. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 (d) if the first subsurface body of water is not compatible with the porous material in the underground reservoir, performing the steps of:
 (1) extracting water from the first subsurface body of water; 
 (2) treating the extracted water to make it compatible with the porous material in the underground reservoir; and 
 (3) introducing the treated water into the underground reservoir. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the porous material in the underground reservoir is a natural alluvium of a river system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of testing the first subsurface body of water comprises:
 combining a portion of the water with a sample of the natural alluvium. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first subsurface body of water is located in a natural alluvium of a river system external to the underground reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of extracting water from the first body of water further comprises:
 pumping water from an extraction point in the natural alluvium of the river system to thereby extract water from the river system. 
 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for storing water in an underground reservoir filled with a porous material, the underground storage reservoir including an underground vessel formed by one or more substantially water-impermeable, man-made barriers and an aquiclude, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying a source of water from a location outside of the underground reservoir;   (b) determining if the water is suitable for storage in the porous material in the underground reservoir; and   (c) if the water is determined to be suitable, transferring water from the location to the underground reservoir.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the determining operation includes at least one of testing water obtained from the location or testing porous material in contact with the water. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the determining operation includes comparing at least one chemical or physical property of the water obtained from the location to one or more corresponding chemical or physical property of either water or porous material in the underground reservoir. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the transferring operation comprises:
 transferring water from the source to an infiltration pond hydraulically connected to the underground reservoir; and 
 allowing the water in the infiltration pond to infiltrate to the underground reservoir. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 receiving rights necessary to remove water from the source of water; and 
 identifying the location from which water from the source may be removed. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the source of water is a surface water body and identifying the location further comprises:
 drilling at least one extraction well from which water from the surface water body may be indirectly removed. 
 
     
     
         27 . A method for storing water in an underground reservoir filled with a porous material, the method comprising:
 receiving rights necessary to remove water from a source of water;   testing water from the source of water obtained from at least one location;   selecting one or more of the at least one location based on results of the testing operation; and   transferring water from the selected location or locations for storage in the underground reservoir.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein testing comprises:
 testing at least one chemical characteristic of the water selected from total dissolved solids, pH, iron, phosphorous, arsenic, cadmium, silica, barium, copper, lead, chloride, sodium, manganese, sulfate, calcium, carbonate, nitrate, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, and total dissolved oxygen.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one location is an extraction well and testing further comprises:
 testing at least one chemical or physical characteristic of subsurface material associated with the extraction well.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the physical characteristic is selected from one or more of temperature, porosity, mean particulate size, mineral type, and whether natural or imported material.