ISMAR7 - International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge

Join the global leaders in subsurface water management at the world`s pre-eminent conference devoted entirely to aquifer recharge. ISMAR7 is your opportunity to access cutting-edge innovations, industry-leading knowledge and expertise, and insight into the latest developments in aquifer storage and recovery.

The ISMAR conference series was born in August 1988 in Anaheim California as the 1st International Symposium on Artificial Recharge of Ground Water. Pioneered by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), it continued in Orlando, Florida (1994) before the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) partnered ASCE in Amsterdam (1998). Following the 4th Symposium in Adelaide (2002) the name changed to International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge to reflect the growing scientific basis supporting overt management of quantity and quality of recharge, and reflected the name of the IAH Commission on MAR, which was established in 2002. ASCE has also adopted this name for its relevant standards commitee. Dedicated to a global reach, recent ISMAR conferences have been ISMAR5 (Berlin, Germany, 2005) and ISMAR6 (Phoenix, USA, 2007). The Symposium continues as a joint venture of IAH/ASCE and is the prime international meeting in this field, adopting the Commissions aims, 'to expand water resources and improve water quality in ways that are appropriate, environmentally sustainable, technically viable, economical, and socially desirable. It will do this by encouraging development and adoption of improved practices for management of aquifer recharge,' IAH, January 2002.

In 2010, the ISMAR7 event will be coordinated and hosted jointly by the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi and Schlumberger Water Services. Based on historical attendance, we anticipate 300-400 attendees comprised of government agencies, water utilities, industry, and environmental consultants with special interest and expertise in:

• Managed aquifer recharge (MAR)
• Storage and reuse of treated sewage effluent and stormwater
• Large-scale storage of desalinated water
• Water supply management in arid regions
• Saltwater intrusion mitigation via MAR
• Hydrogeology, geophysics, groundwater modeling, and more

ISMAR6 was attended by 291 people from 26 countries and 27 U.S. states. This symposium brought together many of the world's experts on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR). The conference included four workshops, three days of technical sessions including a poster paper session each day, and a full day tour of three fascinating and contrasting recharge operations.

Talks were given by speakers from countries in Europe (Germany, Spain, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, England, and Sweden), the Middle East (Egypt, United Arab Emirates), Africa (South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda), Asia (India, Taiwan, Japan, and Indonesia), Central America (Mexico), Canada, and Australia, covering a diverse range of MAR topics, including hydraulics and storage, the role of integrated water management, regualtions, economics, geochemistry, the fate of pathogens and organic compounds, regional issues, basin recharge, subsurface water quality changes, and operational and management issues.

ISMAR7 is expected to be even more exciting than the previous conferences. Central to an area with pressing water needs, scarce surface water and a diversity of landscapes, lithologies, technologies, and cultures, this conference is geographically positioned to provide new insight and learning to all who attend from near and far. With expanded debate and discussion sessions, increased visibility of climate change and depleting water supplies, and the unique desert location of an active MAR, we anticipate great success in 2010.