How the world's future water needs can be covered is the central theme of this year's fifth Managed Aquifer Recharge International Summer School (MARISS). The international exchange on groundwater recharge is running until today at HTW Dresden.

Due to climate change, prolonged periods of drought are becoming more frequent, affecting recharge of groundwater. In addition to demand management, groundwater recharge is an important measure to meet water demand and ensure water quality. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is the targeted injection of water into aquifers for later recovery. This includes methods such as bank filtration, streambed weirs, infiltration ponds and injection wells. Natural water sources from treated urban rainwater or wastewater are used.

Courses on artificial water recharge processes

The two-week summer school includes courses on various groundwater recharge methods such as: Site selection and design of bank filtrate catchments, numerical groundwater modelling, hydraulic and hydrogeochemical methods, removal of microorganisms and organic trace substances, regulations and risk assessment, as well as laboratory and field experiments to simulate MAR processes at HTW Dresden and TU Dresden. In addition, the participants will get to know well-functioning systems during two technical excursions to the waterworks Görlitz and Dresden-Hosterwitz.

The world as a guest at HTW Dresden

This year, Master's students, doctoral candidates, professors, lecturers and specialists from a total of 17 countries will exchange ideas about future water supply at our university. The participants come from countries such as Belgium, Canada, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Hungary, India, Iran, Sudan, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam.

The summer school is supported scientifically and professionally by lecturers from the Institute of Groundwater Management and the Institute of Water Chemistry, the INOWAS junior research group of TU Dresden and the DVGW Technology Centre Water Dresden, and is organised by Cristina Sandhu (HTWD). The international summer school is funded by the DAAD as part of the project "HAW.international" Future. East.