--- title: "Case study: How this local council funded a managed aquifer recharge project" description: The City of Kalamunda’s Hartfield Park Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) project has been eight years in development, originally stemming from its 2010 Hartfield Park Master Plan, which had identified a --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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Due to insufficient groundwater allocations, [alternative water sources](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/featured-news/australias-groundwater-management-challenge/) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the site were investigated, and the MAR concept subsequently developed. “Essentially, we take water from a main stormwater drain, filter it and then direct-inject it into the Leederville aquifer, which is a semi-confined aquifer,” City of Kalamunda Water Projects Manager Daniel Nelson said. Nelson stated that the council had initially committed around $100,000 towards research and development, with the project subsequently receiving additional funding of $1 million as part of a greater state government election pledge of $6 million to deliver the Hartfield master plan. --- [Read the full story on local council funding](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/business/partnerships/is-more-flexible-funding-key-to-driving-local-council-water-sustainability-projects/) --- Given the long-term nature of the project and the demands of managing council resources, Nelson said funding flexibility was important, stating that “if there were really strict timelines on the funding source we would have had to abandon a lot of the project”. “Whoever takes on a project like that really needs to own it and make it theirs,” he said. “You really need someone to champion the project, particularly when you’re looking to do something slightly different. "It took a long time to get approvals through the relevant State Government departments, specifically for the water harvesting project.” Nelson stated that the goal had initially been to secure 50,000 kL per year, offsetting an extra 5 ha of playing space, with studies revealing the potential to go to 250,000 kL at full-scheme. “We conducted a successful three-year trial, and now have the support to go to a full-scheme system, and are currently implementing the full-scheme system infrastructure over two financial years,” he said. First published as 'Funding the field'  in [*Current*](http://bit.ly/CurrentApril2019) magazine April 2019. **Related video:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5SNCD64g-8   [ Groundwater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/groundwater) [ Government ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/government) [ Videos ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/videos) [ Managed Aquifer Recharge ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/managed-aquifer-recharge) [ Western Australia (WA) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/western-australia) [ Aquifers ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/aquifers) [ Funding ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/funding) [ Natural Environment ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/natural-environment) [ Local Councils ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/local-councils) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Case%20study:%20How%20this%20local%20council%20funded%20a%20managed%20aquifer%20recharge%20project&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/case-study-how-this-local-council-funded-a-managed-aquifer-recharge-project) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/case-study-how-this-local-council-funded-a-managed-aquifer-recharge-project) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/case-study-how-this-local-council-funded-a-managed-aquifer-recharge-project) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/case-study-how-this-local-council-funded-a-managed-aquifer-recharge-project) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Perth introduces new waterwise initiatives ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/perth-introduces-new-waterwise-initiatives) Elle Hardy The city has launched a revised managed aquifer recharge policy and groundwater allocation plan to combat the increasing effects of… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/perth-introduces-new-waterwise-initiatives) ### [ Mains upgrades to improve Townsville water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/mains-upgrades-improve-townsville-water) Cecilia Harris Townsville residents are set to benefit from more than $1.7 million worth of water mains upgrades in Hermit Park and Hyde Park, an… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/mains-upgrades-improve-townsville-water) ### [ Underground future for water storage ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/underground-future-for-water-storage) Water Source In 2014, a team of Spanish researchers conducted a nationwide survey investigating the storage potential of aquifers with nearby… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/underground-future-for-water-storage) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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