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A Study of the Suitability of Saline Surface Water for Recharging the Hypersaline Palaeochannel Aquifers of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia

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Abstract.

In the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, hypersaline groundwater is being depleted locally due to its exploitation for mineral processing. This study assessed the suitability of using surface water from a large network of salt lakes and other impoundments in the Kalgoorlie region for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR). To reduce heavy loads of total suspended solids (TSS), a small percentage of hypersaline groundwater was blended with the surface water. The mixing technique significantly reduced the TSS and associated turbidities in surface water during a 10-day aquifer recharge trial conducted at Paddington South (50 km NW of Kalgoorlie). About 3.9 ML of surface water was injected into a palaeochannel, confirming the viability of ASR and the effectiveness of the mixing technique. Modelling carried out to examine plume evolution and recovery efficiency showed that the injected water was not likely to migrate significantly due to density contrasts and that 40-45% of it could potentially be recovered without significant deterioration.

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Correspondence to Riasat Ali.

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Ali, R., Turner, J. A Study of the Suitability of Saline Surface Water for Recharging the Hypersaline Palaeochannel Aquifers of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Mine Water and the Environment 23, 110–118 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-004-0051-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-004-0051-1

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