Patent ID: 7192218

Claim:
A subsurface water storage system for receiving and storing substantially sediment-free water from a surface water body containing sediment-laden water, the subsurface water storage system comprising: an underground porosity storage reservoir storing water, the underground porosity storage reservoir including an underground vessel formed by one or more substantially water-impermeable, man-made barriers and an aquiclude, the vessel defining a volume such that the volume is substantially hydrologically separate from an environment exterior to the volume; at least one aquifer well coupled to the underground reservoir by piping, the at least one aquifer well being located in an aquifer that is hydrologically connected to the surface water body, each well having a wellhead; and a pump pumping water from the aquifer into the underground reservoir via the at least one aquifer well when water from the surface water body is available to be stored, the water substantially free of sediments found in the surface water body.