The Sant Vicenç dels Horts (SVH) MAR system is one of the most active aquifer recharge systems in the Llobregat (Spain) area. It consists of a decantation pond (5600 m2) and an infiltration pond (4000 m2). The purpose of this aquifer recharge system is to increase groundwater resources at the local scale, with an annual volume recharge 1.11 (2011) and 1.16 million (2012) cubic metres of raw surface water coming from the Llobregat River. In 2011, an organic layer of vegetal compost was installed on the bottom of the infiltration pond to enhance adsorption and degradation processes along the recharge, the first of such an approach at such a large scale, worldwide.
Additional information about this site can be found here.
MAR profile:
Attribute |
SANT VICENÇ DELS HORTS |
|
---|---|---|
General information |
Country |
Spain |
City |
Barcelona |
|
Site name |
Sant Vicenç dels Horts infiltration system |
|
Operator name |
Agència Catalana de l’Aigua |
|
Type of MAR |
Infiltration Ponds |
|
Year commenced |
2008 |
|
Current status |
Full operation |
|
Map coordinates |
41.39/ 2.02 |
|
Operational scale (Mm3/a) |
~ 1.8 |
|
Objective |
Environmental |
|
Capture zone |
Influent source |
River water Reclaimed water (future) |
Pre-treatment |
Source water treatment before recharge |
Settling basin |
Recharge |
No of recharge facilities |
2 ponds (1 recharge, 1 settling) |
Hydraulic loading rate (m3/m2 d) |
~ 1 |
|
Recharged volume (Mm3/a) |
~ 1.8 |
|
Sub-surface |
Residence time (d) |
unknown |
Aquifer properties |
range of hydraulic conductivity representative for the aquifer (m/s): 1×10-2 |
|
Lithology of the target aquifer: porous |
||
Thickness of the unsaturated zone: few m |
||
Thickness of the target aquifer: Up to 10 |
||
Recovery |
Distance of recovery wells from point of recharge (m) |
- |
Recovered volume (m3/a) |
- |
|
Recovered infiltrate (%) |
- |
|
No of recovery facilities |
- |
|
Post-treatment |
Water treatment after recovery |
- |
End-use |
Environmental (aquifer is used for agriculture, drinking water, industry) |