Water will be stored hundreds of metres under a Dartford village as part of a new groundbreaking project which aims to help the water-stressed south-east.
The new £3.2 million trial - the most advanced scheme of its type in the UK - was announced by Thames Water, and will see water stored in a 'bubble' 250 metres under the ground at the back of a field near Horton Kirby.
The aim is for drinking water to be brought to the surface when needed, for example during times of drought.
Desert regions across the world, including Las Vegas, already use the technique, called Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR).
Aquifers are layers of rock deep underground from which groundwater can be extracted, but this new technology will see them used as underground storage reservoirs.
Thames Water hydrogeologist Jamie Riches shows DRiPS and EA the soil samples, taken every metre of the dig down into the acquifer and stored in the wooden boxes for analysis
In September last year, Thames Water began drilling at Horton Kirby, and when work finished this January the drill reached a depth of 250 metres and entered the Lower Greensand aquifer.
When in use, the ASR scheme will take ready-to-drink water from a mains water pipe and then store it in the aquifer.
TOP STORIES:
When the water is needed it will be taken back out and disinfected before going back into the public water supply.
Groundwater resources manager at Thames Water, and UK Groundwater Forum member Dr Mike Jones said: "Aquifer storage isn’t the magical answer to the south-east’s water stress, as not all aquifers are suitable for this type of project - but it’s a great start and I’m confident this work will help us understand how we can best use our natural aquifer resources in the future, especially to help combat the effects of climate change."
The site in Horton Kirby
Ed Uden, groundwater team leader at the Environment Agency, added: "This scheme is also good news for the River Darent, a chalk stream flowing through Horton Kirby and other villages in Kent.
"Instead of water being taken from the environment in the summer, which can cause the river flow to be reduced, the ASR scheme will allow up to 5 million litres per day to be taken from the water stored underground and put into drinking water supply, protecting the river."
Alan Williams, chairman of the Darent River Preservation Society said: "We have monitored this project since its inception at the Horton Kirby site. Our site visit in December 2014 to the ASR 3 site demonstrated to us the progress that has been made.
"It certainly shows how clean water can be stored in times of plenty."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel