Modeling and Optimization of Recycled Water Systems to Augment Urban Groundwater Recharge through Underutilized Stormwater Spreading Basins

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Abstract
Increasing pressures on existing water supply systems are leading urban water managers to explore new options for diversifying water portfolios. Infrastructure systems that use stormwater and recycled water to augment groundwater recharge through spreading basins represent cost-effective opportunities to diversify water supplies. However, technical questions remain about how these types of spreading basin managed aquifer recharge systems should be designed; furthermore, existing planning tools are insufficient for performing robust design comparisons. To address this need, this study presents a novel model for identifying the best-case design and operation schedule for infrastructure systems that deliver advanced treated recycled water to underutilized stormwater spreading basins. The resulting recycled water systems are optimal with respect to life cycle costs and water deliveries. Through a case study of Los Angeles, California, this study illustrates how delivering recycled water to spreading basins could be optimally implemented in this example semi-arid city. Case study results illustrate tradeoffs between centralized and decentralized configurations. For example, while a centralized Hyperion system could deliver more recycled water to the Hansen Spreading Grounds, this system incurs approximately twice the conveyance cost of a decentralized Tillman system (mean of 44% of unit life cycle costs in the Hyperion system compared to 22% in the Tillman system). Compared to existing methods, our model produces results that allow for a more comprehensive and precise analysis of the cost, water volume, and energy tradeoffs among different design scenarios to utilize excess capacity in spreading basins. Water management planners can use our model to inform decisions about spreading basin operation policies and the development of new water supplies.
Funding Information
  • Army Research Office
  • Stanford University
  • Division of Engineering Education and Centers (1028968)

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