Feasibility study of managed aquifer recharge for improved water productivity for Australian cotton production

Due to climate variability and national policy initiatives, irrigated cotton regions need to find a way to remain economically viable with a smaller and more variable water supply. The cotton industry has already adapted to great extent, for example through increasing water use efficiency, but it is now in need of additional innovative adaptation measures. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) offers one possible adaptation by using surface water, when in surplus, to artificially recharge groundwater aquifers. This water is then available for subsequent irrigation during seasonal or annual dry periods, with underground storage reducing water loss from evaporation. MAR and water banking systems have shown great potential in the USA (e.g. Scanlon et al 2016, Megdal et al 2014), which have mainly been used for urban water supplies although there are some large multipurpose water banking schemes, and they have attracted some attention in Australia.