The document discusses managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques for coastal aquifers containing brackish and saline groundwater. It notes that over-exploitation and upconing effects have reduced the efficiency of conventional aquifer storage and recovery systems. The document explores different MAR approaches for various coastal settings and aquifer types. It also summarizes recent research on optimizing well design and operation for MAR in brackish aquifers. Finally, the document proposes areas for potential cooperation between European and GCC countries on MAR pilot projects, research, and improving regulations.

1. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
Federal Institute for Geosciences and
Natural Resources (BGR), Germany
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in coastal
aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Cooperation between partners from European and GCC countries
Ralf Klingbeil, Maike Gröschke

2. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Handbook on
Groundwater Management in Coastal Zones
2
21/05/2019
BGR,2018.

3. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Subsurface Water Solutions
Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Areas
21/05/2019
3
Over-
exploitation
of freshwater
lenses
Upconing
of brackish/
saline water
Buoyancy effects:
low efficiency
of conventional
ASR systems
Modified after KWR (2015)

4. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Subsurface Water Solutions
SWS in Different Coastal Settings
21/05/2019
4
Modified after KWR (2015)
ASR Coastal
Modern
coastal cities
Freshkeeper
Local shallow or
deeper aquifers
Freshmaker
Artificial
islands
Overcoming
buoyancy effects
and upconing

5. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Multiple Partially Penetrating Well
Optimization of Well Design and Operation
21/05/2019
5
 Laboratory experiment
for brackish aquifers
Witt&Müller,2019.

6. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Multiple Partially Penetrating Well
Optimization of Well Design and Operation
21/05/2019
6
 Different well designs
 Different pumping (inj/ext)
schemes
 Different fresh-saline
interaction
Witt&Müller,2019.

7. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Multiple Partially Penetrating Well
Optimization of Well Design and Operation
21/05/2019
7
Witt&Müller,2019.
 Fresh water in fresh water
 no buoyancy
Grenzwert: 2,75mS
 Fresh water in saline water
 buoyancy

8. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Multiple Partially Penetrating Well
Optimization of Well Design and Operation
21/05/2019
8
Witt&Müller,2019.
 Fresh water in saline water
 5 cycles: injection - extraction
 R1: All 4 wells inject & extract
all time
 R2: All 4 wells inject,
extract only until EC limit
R1
R2

9. SUBSOL
Potential Cooperation
with GCC Countries
Oman, Bahrain, UAE

10. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
 Increasing salinization
 Target: Alluvial coastal aquifer
 Excess desal: ASR to increase water
storage
 Excess TSE: ASR to increase reuse
& mitigate seawater intrusion
 SWS opportunities
– Pilot sites
– Research accompanying
implementation
– Improvement of national regulation,
water quality standards for injection
– Capacity development for regulation
& approval procedures
21/05/2019
Potential for EU-GCC Cooperation
Oman
10

11. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
 Increasing salinization
 Target: Fractured limestone,
Dammam aquifer, Khobar (B)
formation
 Excess TSE: ASR to increase reuse
& mitigate seawater intrusion
 SWS opportunities
– Feasibility study
– Research accompanying feasibility
study
– Improvement of regulations,
water quality standards for injection
– Capacity development for regulation
& approval procedures
21/05/2019
Potential for EU-GCC Cooperation
Bahrain
11
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
Neogene Formation
+ Recent deposits
Alat Member
Orange Marl Member
Khobar Member
Sharks Tooth Shale M.
Rus Formation
Umm Er Radhuma
Formation
Geological Units
Dammam
Formation
metersbelowsealevel
(+anhydrite & shales)
A
B
C
Bahrain main island Sitra
island
A
A'
A A'
Limestone (Aquifer)
Underflow from Saudi
Arabia aquifers
Shale and marl (Aquitard)
Anhydrite (Aquitard)

12. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
 Increasing salinisation of
inland and coastal aquifers
 Target: Alluvial coastal aquifers
 Excess desal: ASR to mitigate
seawater intrusion, develop
subsurface storage
 SWS opportunities
– Pilot sites in “fresh water aquifers”
– Research accompanying
implementation
21/05/2019
Potential for EU-GCC Cooperation
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
12

13. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Potential for EU-GCC Cooperation
Outcome of SubSol Mission
21/05/2019
13
 Challenges:
Increasing salinization of coastal and inland alluvial and
fractured aquifers
 Resources:
Excess desal & excess TSE
 Environment:
National ASR plans, enabling environment,
institutional capacity, political support,
strong interest in EU-GCC cooperation
 Needs:
Improved regulations, water quality standards,
approval procedures

14. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14R. Klingbeil, M. Gröschke: MAR in coastal aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Acknowledgment
 European Union’s Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme
grant agreement No 642228
 SubSol –
Coastal SUBsurface water SOLutions:
SWS team, esp. colleagues from
KWR, www.subsol.org
 Ms. Lilli Witt, Mr. Moritz Müller,
Freie Universität Berlin
14
21/05/2019

15. MAR in Coastal
Areas / Session 14
Federal Institute for Geosciences and
Natural Resources (BGR), Germany
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in coastal
aquifers, in brackish and saline groundwater
Cooperation between partners from European and GCC countries
Ralf Klingbeil, Maike Gröschke
We ♥ MAR