New MARCLAIMED research explores how reactive organic layers can improve water quality in Managed Aquifer Recharge
A new scientific publication involving MARCLAIMED partners provides field-scale evidence of how reactive organic layers can enhance water quality when treated wastewater is used for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR).
The paper, “Enhancing infiltration water quality through reactive organic layers: field-scale evaluation of soil-aquifer treatment managed aquifer recharge using treated wastewater”, has been published in the journal Groundwater for Sustainable Development.
The research investigates a Soil-Aquifer Treatment Managed Aquifer Recharge (SAT–MAR) system at the Comporta Wastewater Treatment Plant in Portugal, described in the study as the first Portuguese field-scale application using infiltration basins for treated wastewater.
Researchers compared three infiltration configurations. Two basins incorporated reactive organic layers containing either biochar or granular activated carbon (GAC), while a third used plain sand.
The results demonstrate the potential of these materials to provide an additional, energy-free treatment step before water reaches the aquifer. The GAC-based reactive layer achieved a 77% removal rate for pharmaceutical compounds, substantially outperforming the biochar-based layer, which achieved 15%, and the plain-sand basin, at 12%.
The study also recorded an approximately 33% reduction in organic matter indicators in the receiving aquifer, providing further evidence of the treatment capacity of the SAT–MAR system.
At the same time, the researchers found that nutrient concentrations exceeded relevant groundwater regulatory thresholds in parts of the vadose zone and groundwater. This finding highlights the need to further optimise wastewater treatment and nutrient management when treated wastewater is used for aquifer recharge.
The results are particularly relevant as Europe looks for ways to diversify its water sources and increase resilience to water scarcity and climate change. Combining treated wastewater reuse with Managed Aquifer Recharge can help store water underground while reducing reliance on conventional freshwater resources.
The study contributes important real-world evidence to the development of safe, sustainable and scalable MAR solutions, supporting the wider objectives of MARCLAIMED to strengthen water resilience through innovative approaches to groundwater management.
MARCLAIMED congratulates Selcuk Oral, Teresa E. Leitão, Tiago N. Martins, Nuno Correia, Patrícia Palma, Sukran Acikel and Mehmet Ekmekci, together with all those involved in the research and field activities.
