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Freshwater Bubbles: A Possibility for Using Saline Aquifers to Store Water
Author(s) -
Moulder E. A.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr006i005p01528
Subject(s) - aquifer , groundwater , saline water , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , dispersion (optics) , geology , salinity , geotechnical engineering , oceanography , physics , optics
Saline aquifers appear to have promising storage capabilities for freshwater supplies. Such aquifers would be a practical alternative to surface water reservoirs in areas where natural reservoir sites are scarce or where evaporation might consume a substantial part of the water stored. A single experiment in Virginia more than 20 years ago shows that a substantial amount of freshwater injected into the saline aquifer can be recovered. Environmental factors that affect water recovery are dispersion and mixing at the fresh‐saline water interface, reshaping of the interface because of density differences of the fluids, and groundwater movement in the saline aquifer system. Investigators have shown mathematical approaches to estimating the first two factors. Available data indicate that the third factor may be significant. Feasibility studies of storage facilities should include evaluation of at least these three factors.