This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($3.683 million) and the Western Australian Government ($1.269 million). Australian Government funding is provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
In the Myalup region (pictured) in Western Australia, a full-scale managed aquifer recharge scheme could assist in security water supply, improving water quality and expanding food supply markets.
Project overview
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is the intentional recharge of water into groundwater aquifers for subsequent recovery or environmental benefit. It can improve water security and provide a drought reserve, as water stored underground won’t evaporate like water stored in surface dams.
In the Myalup region in Western Australia, a full-scale managed aquifer recharge (MAR) scheme could assist in security water supply, improving water quality and expanding food supply markets.
The Science Program is supporting the Western Australian (WA) Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to develop a pilot project that will pump water from the Harvey River Diversion Drain into 4 basins (including installation and monitoring) to test the design and parameters.
Goals of the assessment
Myalup is an important agricultural area in WA. However, surface water supply and groundwater resources in the region are at risk of decline due to a drying climate, clearing in the catchment and increased water demand. If water resources are not well managed, the region could experience a loss of produce, investment, business and jobs.
Studies have shown that a MAR scheme may be viable in Myalup, but further exploratory work is needed to determine if it is cost-effective and sustainable. This pilot will generate the information necessary to then seek approval from the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and to test parameters that will inform the design and cost of a full-scale MAR scheme.
The assessment will test a pilot MAR scheme. The water in the pilot will infiltrate 10-20 metres through the porous soils of the basins into the local aquifer. The water would then remain stored in this aquifer to be extracted at a later time, to help determine aquifer response and recovery rates.
The pilot project will:
- examine a range of other factors that must be understood to determine whether MAR in the region is viable and sustainable in the long term
- investigate the quality of the proposed water source
- examine the behaviour of water once recharged into the aquifer
- examine the potential for the scheme to improve water quality by the recharge process itself
- test a range of operational specifics such as optimal storage volumes, timing and rate of aquifer recharge
- test methods for water recovery and treatment
- ensure no adverse impacts on surrounding land uses
- investigate compliance with regulatory standards.
The results of this pilot will inform future investment and infrastructure decisions, including any necessary approvals required before establishing a full-scale MAR scheme in Myalup.
Environmental and cultural considerations
This pilot will ensure that any environmental impacts can be miminised, especially for nearby RAMSAR wetland systems.
About the Myalup region
Myalup is a town located on the coast in the South West region of WA between Mandurah and Bunbury, on the southern edge of the Yalgorup National Park. Lake Preston, the largest of the 9 lakes in the park, borders the town. It is an important agricultural area of the state, producing a significant proportion of the state’s horticultural produce, with strong export markets.
Key project benefits
Learn more
- Learn more about Science at the NWGA.
- Read about the rapid appraisal of managed aquifer recharge opportunities for agriculture project.