Anne Arundel County Aquifer Recharge

Protecting our aquifer and drinking water supply from emerging contaminants

Project Lead: Dr. Allen P. Davis

Anne Arundel County, Maryland seeks innovative solutions to increase groundwater resiliency and reduce the risks of sinking ground and salt water intrusion. The County is implementing Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) to supplement its underground water supply. The MAR uses advanced techniques to treat water from the Patuxent Water Reclamation Facility in Crofton. Water managers will inject the purified water back into groundwater aquifers that supply drinking water to County residents. 

Maryland FEWture team members Allen P. Davis and Guangbin Li in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Amy R. Sapkota and Paul Turner in the School of Public Health, are working in partnership with the County. The Maryland Team assists with documenting the treatment efficacy of the pilot treatment system by evaluating microbial water quality and the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) in untreated and treated water. 

The project focuses on: 

• microbial pathogens
• organic chemicals, including PFAS compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products
• heavy metals
• other water quality parameters important to the aquifer recharge
• improvements to the treatment process 

The project is in its second phase of five: The Crofton plant has initiatied a pilot advanced water treatment process using Coagulation/Flocculation (C/F), Ozonation, Biofiltration, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), and Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV). In addition to increasing municipal water supply, the process removes harmful nitrogen and phosphorus from local waters and the Chesapeake Bay, which is a key aim in addressing the nutrient-driven degradation of the Bay ecosystem.

The project will: 

• Assist with operation of the pilot plant and collect and analyze treated water samples for standard water quality parameters
• Collect and analyze samples for microbial pathogens
• Collect and analyze samples for PFAS compounds and other organic chemicals of emerging concern
• Assess improvements to the pilot plant, to include chemical and energy reduction