The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced that it will be awarding nearly $8 million in funding to four institutions for research on enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR). The aim of this research is to improve groundwater availability and quality, in response to the challenges posed by climate change and rising water demand.
Enhanced aquifer recharge is a growing field that focuses on replenishing groundwater supplies from various sources. It serves multiple objectives, such as water storage, reuse, and streamflow restoration. The EPA grants will support research institutions in advancing EAR technologies and evaluating the feasibility of implementing them for different purposes, including enhancing water supplies and reducing land subsidence.
According to Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Research and Development, these grants are crucial in identifying innovative solutions for EAR and protecting water resources. As climate change and increasing demand diminish the availability of groundwater, finding effective solutions becomes more important. The research funded by the grants will help communities across the U.S. adapt to drought and extreme heat.
The four institutions receiving the grants have been recognized for their contributions to EAR research. Los Angeles County's Department of Public Works is working on urban strategies for groundwater recharge and developing an open-source EAR evaluation tool. Oklahoma State University is researching the impact of EAR in rural settings, Carnegie Mellon University is studying the risks of contaminant mobilization, and Virginia Tech is creating a web-based decision-support tool for EAR implementation in the U.S. Coastal Plain.
Through these initiatives, the EPA aims to provide water managers at the state, Tribal, and local levels with the knowledge and tools to implement safe and effective EAR practices. This will help strengthen the resilience of communities across the U.S. to drought and extreme weather conditions. By investing in groundwater research, the EPA is taking a proactive approach to safeguarding water resources and ensuring their availability for future generations.
