The Regional Water Authority (RWA) has released a new video that explains in-lieu recharge, a vital process that has been the backbone of groundwater replenishment in the Sacramento region for over two decades. This process not only preserves groundwater for future use but also allows groundwater supplies to naturally increase within our aquifers.
Titled “In-lieu Recharge: Enhancing Nature’s Rainy Day Fund,” the video describes how in-lieu recharge provides an opportunity to utilize excess river and lake water —water that might otherwise be lost—to replenish groundwater resources. You can find the video here.
During wet periods, excess surface water is delivered to customers who usually receive groundwater. By reducing groundwater use, aquifers naturally refill as rainwater and stormwater seep into the soil, increasing groundwater supplies deep below our feet.
“In-lieu recharge blends managed and natural processes to assist Mother Nature in replenishing groundwater,” said Jim Peifer, Executive Director of RWA, which represents nearly two dozen water providers serving 2.2 million people in the Sacramento region.
“Because it incorporates natural recharge, this water storage process may seem less visible than reservoirs, spreading basins, or injection wells,” Peifer added. “But it is widely acknowledged, with decades of practical application and a documented history of successfully replenishing groundwater basins in the Sacramento region and other parts of California.”
In-lieu recharge has already proven effective, as demonstrated by rising groundwater levels in the Sacramento region, even after 20 years of megadrought. There is significant potential to expand this success, and doing so will require extensive planning and investment from water providers, even though the process leverages natural systems.
Local water providers are expanding in-lieu recharge by reoperating existing infrastructure through the Sacramento Regional Water Bank. “For our region, in-lieu recharge is the most cost-effective, scalable, and technically feasible method for recharging groundwater,” said Peifer. “With the continued advancement of in-lieu recharge and the successful operation of the Water Bank, we are well-positioned to address the challenges of climate change and secure a sustainable water future for our community.”