Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is a sustainable and cost-effective way to store water. ASR systems collect and store high-quality water underground during the rainy season for use in the summer, when water resources are typically stretched thin and surface water supplies are most compromised.

GSI is the leading ASR firm in the Pacific Northwest and has conducted dozens of ASR projects on the West Coast. Several of our senior staff members have been planning and managing ASR projects for more than 20 years—and even helped develop the ASR rules in the region.

Meet peak demands

Demand for water is higher in the summer, when there is less of it to go around. By storing water when it is abundant in the winter, municipalities and water providers can use it later to meet peak summertime demands. We work with our clients to assess feasibility, conduct pilot testing, and develop fully operational ASR programs.

Turn stormwater from a nuisance to an asset

While traditional ASR systems store treated drinking water, stormwater ASR systems collect, treat, and store stormwater runoff for nonpotable uses, such as irrigation or flow enhancement and temperature mitigation in stressed streams. Cool runoff is collected and stored in the aquifer in the winter, and used as a source of cold water in the summer, when surface water temperatures are at their highest. GSI is helping to pioneer this nontraditional application of ASR.

Create a reliable cooling source in industrial facilities

A consistent and resilient supply source is essential for industrial facilities that use water for cooling purposes. In places where water is plentiful in the winter and scarce in the summer, ASR bolsters resiliency against drought and supply shortages during the hottest months, which are likely to become more prevalent as a result of climate change. GSI has assisted industrial facilities that are investing in ASR systems to ensure dependable access to water for essential cooling needs.

Provide environmental benefits to fish and streams

ASR and aquifer recharge (AR) can be used to store cold winter flows and return the water to streams in the summer, when streamflows are insufficient and water temperatures too warm to sustain fish habitat and passage.