Stormwater Reuse: Aquifer Storage and Recovery Evaluation Using Municipal Residential Stormwater in the Pacific Northwest

In the Pacific Northwest, wintertime urban stormwater represents an ample, cool, clean source of water. In most locations, stormwater is discharged to surface water at rates that are far higher than the natural (undeveloped) hydrologic regime, which can be detrimental to the stream channel and aquatic life. The use of urban residential stormwater in Beaverton, Oregon, is being characterized and evaluated to assess the technical and regulatory feasibility for injection and storage in a deep basalt aquifer during the winter for reuse in the summer for nonpotable uses, such as irrigation and streamflow enhancement. A compilation of existing regional stormwater quality datasets and site-specific stormwater quality data is being evaluated to assess the feasibility of using stormwater as a source for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR). Available information indicates preliminary feasibility and site-specific data are currently being collected to confirm feasibility and to develop project costs for possible pilot testing.