Two case studies are described that explain the role, value, limitations and policy requirements for storing reclaimed
water in aquifers for indirect reuse. The first case involves aquifer storage and recovery of water, the product of tertiary
treated municipal sewage effluent, via a single injection and recovery well at Bolivar, South Australia. The recovered
water, like the source water for injection, is used for unrestricted irrigation of horticulture. A limestone aquifer at a
depth of 100 to 160 m confined by clay and containing brackish groundwater provides the storage zone. In the second
case, located at Alice Springs, trials are proceeding to assist in the design and establishment of a soil–aquifer treatment
system which will allow water derived from secondary treatment of municipal sewage effluent to be stored in an
unconfined alluvial aquifer for irrigation of horticulture. Intermittent infiltration from basins provides supplementary
water treatment. In each case, the motivations, choice of methods, required investigations, public consultation
processes, and economics of subsurface storage are presented. The lessons learned that may assist with development
of policies to facilitate environmentally sustainable subsurface storage of water in water reuse projects are discussed.