The importance of drought resilience through better water management
Drought conditions are placing increasing pressure on water resources across England. Lower river flows, declining reservoir storage and restrictions on water abstraction are affecting agriculture, public water supplies and natural ecosystems. Even when rainfall returns, short periods of rain may not be sufficient to restore depleted water resources. Managing drought requires retaining water when its available so it can be used more efficiently and managed according to local environmental and agricultural conditions.
The MARCLAIMED project is contributing to this transition by combining Managed Aquifer Recharge with alternative water resources. Managed Aquifer Recharge involves intentionally storing water underground so it can support future water supplies or provide environmental benefits. Underground storage can help balance wetter and drier periods while reducing some of the evaporation losses associated with surface storage.
MARCLAIMED is examining how this approach can be implemented safely and effectively through three demonstration sites:
- Barcelona, Spain: The project is studying the use of treated surface water and reclaimed wastewater to recharge the Baix Llobregat aquifer.
- Comporta, Portugal: Treated wastewater is introduced into the aquifer through infiltration ponds. The demo site focuses on improving water quality and infiltration while understanding and managing potential groundwater-pollution risks.
- Wadden Region, the Netherlands: Agricultural drainage water that would normally leave the area is collected, treated and stored underground. During dry periods, it can be recovered for irrigation.
The different conditions at these sites demonstrate that drought resilience cannot depend on one solution. Water availability, infrastructure and water-quality risks vary between regions. Effective water management must combine suitable local water sources with appropriate treatment, monitoring and storage systems.
MARCLAIMED is also developing digital and decision-support tools to help authorities, water utilities and other stakeholders evaluate these factors. This can support the inclusion of Managed Aquifer Recharge and alternative water resources in longer-term drought and river-basin planning.
