Sustainability and Environmental
Engineering: Water and Reuse
Indirect Potable Reuse through Aquifer
Recharge and Recovery
Thomas M. Missimer and Gary Amy
Water Desalination and Reuse Center
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Current reuse in the KSA
Reuse of domestic wastewater currently is 10%
or less.
Reuse of industrial wastewater is limited to
mostly reinjection of produced water with
discharge of refinery wastewater to the sea
and gas processing wastewater to percolation
ponds (productive reuse is minimal).
Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
What is aquifer recharge and recovery?
ARR is the use of natural systems to provide
advanced treatment of impaired waters to
remove pathogens and trace organic
compounds. In many cases it can be defined
as a form of Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT). This
is a low energy, sustainable technology.
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Wastewater
Reservoir
Surface spreading
or injection using wells
Consumer
Water Treatment
ARR
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• A Physico-Biological Process
 Filtration and Biodegradation
 Biodegradation (Sustainability)
vs. Sorption
• A Sustainable Process
 Low Cost, Low Energy,
low GHGs, Minimal Chemicals
• Provides Both Treatment and
(Subsurface) Storage
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Aquifer types that can be used to develop
ARR systems in Saudi Arabia
-wadi aquifer systems
-dune fields
-alluvial outwash plains
-alluvial fans
-engineered filter/aquifer systems
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Wadi Aquifer System ARR
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Engineered Wadi Aquifer ARR
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Water Reuse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Why ARR instead of using advanced wastewater
treatment techniques?
-energy consumption
-cost
-technology causing lack of trained operators in
many areas
-reduction in carbon footprint
-potential use for both unrestricted irrigation use
and indirect potable use