Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)

ABOUT

Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) is a water supply strategy to store available water in a natural aquifer during wet times for later recovery and use. Austin Water is currently studying aquifers in our region to determine the most favorable areas for an Aquifer Storage and Recovery project in the future.

HOW ASR SYSTEMS WORK

When water supplies are plentiful, an Aquifer Storage and Recovery system will store available drinking water from Austin Water in a natural aquifer underground. When our regular water supply becomes low, stored water is pumped out of the aquifer, treated to meet drinking water standards, and distributed to customers. Water collected and stored in an ASR system would be available under Austin’s existing water rights, allowing Austin to maximize local water resources.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

From 2008-2016, a historic drought hit Central Texas, reducing water in the Highland Lakes to historically low levels. In response, Austin Water created Water Forward, an integrated plan to guide Austin’s water future for the next 100 years. The City Council-approved Water Forward plan includes conservation, reuse, and water supply strategies to ensure a diversified, sustainable, and resilient water future for Austin. Aquifer Storage and Recovery is one of the water supply projects included in Water Forward. An ASR project will make Austin’s water supply more resilient to the effects of climate change and drought and could provide a second source of water during emergencies, like freeze events or flooding.

EQUITY AND AFFORDABILITY

Austin Water is committed to using an equity and affordability lens to implement this project. The first phase of the ASR project includes development of an equity and affordability road map and tool.

GET INVOLVED

The project team is available to make presentations to community and professional groups. Please follow this link to request a presentation.