Aquifer Recharge Zone Technology

Innovative Technology Increases Groundwater By Funneling Rainwater Into Aquifers - Water for Earth

The EM Locator Technology system is very well suited to solve one of the largest infrastructure problems in the country. States such as Texas, California and Arizona have more demand for water than they have capacity. Via our company Water for Earth™, we plan to use our technology to identify areas that have enough infiltration capacity that would allow harvested rainfall to re-enter and re-fill aquifers. Let's first talk about the tech that allows this problem to be addressed.

Shown below is a near real-time, geophysical data collection system. Within minutes of arriving at a worksite, it has the ability to collect both the depth and activity levels of aquifers below the surface down to 5,000 feet. It can also detect sub-terranean layers capable of holding water, and see paths of downward percolation. For implementation of recharge zones, there's one additional metric that needs to be gathered and that is the slope of the ground. Ground slope is important to the harvesting of rainwater without expensive dirt work.

EM Locator Technology - Automatic Deployment

Aquifer Recharge Zone Technology - EM Locator Technology

The Science. The Results.

The patented EM Locator Technology system sits on top of the ground and sends a series of pulses into the earth. These pulses agitate the non-solids under the surface and create a unique electromagnetic signature which travels back up to the surface for Water for Earth to collect and review. The focus of this application is to find both the closest aquifer to the surface and if there are any points on the property that show downward percolation of water.

In our example, the system identified the best opportunity for a recharge zone is at Site 4. We also know the elevation using an elevation measuring tool, and we know the average rainfall in this area is approximately 2-ft per year. Now, a pretty standard, one-acre percolation pond/rain harvesting site can be laid out.

The actual design is fairly flexible, but the key element is getting a slope of at least 3-degrees so that when rain falls, instead of soaking into the ground, it travels to the entry point of an aquifer recharge zone. The size of this zone in the example below is 1-acre.

This means that, in theory, it will collect approximately 2-acre foot of water each year. However, because the structure is composed of dirt, there will be losses. But, in a high-level estimation, 50% of the rain would be channeled down towards the aquifer. The remaining would be absorbed in the surface of the dirt and eventually evaporated by the sun. This design could give a yield of approximately 325,000 gallons per year (1-acre foot) of refill to the aquifer.

Aquifer Recharge Zone Using EM Locator Technology

The Sustainability Impact.

As water levels drop, water well pumps are having to use a lot more energy to pump water to the surface. If by using the EM Locator Technology system to accurately design the location for an aquifer recharge zone, thereby preventing aquifer levels from dropping, then there is an overall cost savings to the electric grid. Currently, the estimated energy costs to pump groundwater in the U.S. each year is approximately $3.65 Billion according to the National Groundwater Association. If our technology can help increase water levels by even 5%, it would help reduce energy costs by $182 Million each year.

In addition, consider desalination plants, which run on fossil fuels. If we can use our technology to recharge a depleted aquifer and prevent the need for a desalination plant, then we can help reduce large-scale CO2 emissions.

The Audiences. The Benefits.

Landowners with insufficient groundwater to support a well	Helps recharge small pockets of groundwater to a point where water well extraction would be possible.
Municipalities	Helps recharge local aquifers so that local water utilities can support the growing water demands from its citizens without having to pursue more expensive water sources.
Farmers	With appropriate city and county support, there could be programs where farmers are paid to convert unused farm land into aquifer recharge zones.
Natural Disaster Support	Implementing aquifer recharge zones in areas that are prone to wildfires so in the event of an emergency, water resources could be tapped upon demand.

To learn more about how Water for Earth will be using EM Locator Technology, visit their website here.

Aquifer Recharge Zone Technology

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