KWR at ISMAR12: 12th International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge in Stellenbosch (South Africa)

MAR as a global key in sustainable groundwater management

From the 1950s onwards, MAR has been the backbone of the drinking water supply in the western part of the Netherlands, and KWR and the Dutch water utilities have been active contributors to ISMAR ever since the first edition in 1988. Now, with growing global concern over droughts and water scarcity, the role of MAR in sustainable groundwater management is gaining traction worldwide. Also in South Africa, groundwater plays a vital role in securing water supply during dry periods. The field excursions offered as part of the ISMAR12 program provided valuable context. We visited several MAR sites in the Western Cape, including the Atlantis Water Resource Management Scheme and The Cape Flats Aquifer Management Scheme. These excursions showcased how MAR is being used in practice to enhance water security, having gained momentum since the Cape Town water crisis in 2017-2018.

Sharing our MAR experience and expertise

During the conference, Niels and Teun had the opportunity to share their experiences and generic insights obtained from various MAR projects in the Netherlands, where in the latest years also agriculture and industries have adopted MAR to secure their water supply. Niels gave two talks focused on improving the performance of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR). He highlighted how non-uniform flow distribution across well screens — often overlooked — can explain disappointing ASR performance in saline aquifers. Moreover, he offered practical design considerations to optimize ASR well fields based on both field experience and groundwater flow models. Teun presented how MAR in coastal dunes can be enhanced by extracting brackish groundwater, based on results obtained from the FRESHMAN field pilot at water utility Dunea in Scheveningen, as well as additional numerical model simulations.

Image 1: Niels presenting on important design considerations for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR).

Image 2: Teun presenting on how extracting brackish groundwater can help optimize MAR in coastal zones.

Connecting through knowledge and shared adventures

ISMAR12 offered an excellent platform for sharing practical experiences, exchanging research findings, exploring new collaborative opportunities, and sparking new ideas. Informal networking moments during breaks, poster sessions, and evening events facilitated dialogue between scientists, practitioners and policy makers, and allowed to connect with colleagues from around the world.
Beyond the formal program and international exchanges, we also took the opportunity to strengthen ties with our Dutch colleagues from TU Delft, water utilities Dunea and PWN, and Acacia Water. Whether hiking through vineyards, mountain biking along scenic trails, or enjoying the local culture and landscapes on a road trip, these shared experiences made the week both professionally and personally unforgettable.

Proud to support ISMAR12

Being committed to furthering the science and practice of MAR to improve fresh water availability, KWR was a proud ‘SILVER’ sponsor of this year’s ISMAR. Alongside with the French Geological Survey (BRGM), the KWR logo was frequently visible during every session of the symposium. We are already looking forward to continuing the conversation at the next ISMAR, which will take place in India in 2027 or 2028.

Image 3: KWR was a proud silver sponsors of ISMAR12 in South Africa.