Cost Comparison of Water Projects
New research by Water in the West shows that groundwater recharge is a cheaper alternative to surface storage. In fact, researchers found that the cost of recharge is cheaper than many other water supply options at $90 to 1,100 per acre-foot, or at a median cost of $390 per acre-foot, which broadly agrees with published values.
Groundwater Recharge
Replenishing groundwater by putting water back into the ground (Cost based on 25th to 75th percentiles of studied projects, 2014 USD)
COST PER ACRE-FOOT
Source: Water in the West
Reservoir Expansion
Raising dams to expand reservoirs, increasing their capacity to store water
Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Seawater Desalination
Removing salt from sea — or brackish — water to create a new supply
Source: Pacific Institute
