New research from the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training says that managed aquifer recharge could help to drought-proof a region.

The Centre conducted research in the Namoi region of New South Wales, looking at water storage in aquifers rather than in surface dams.

The study says during periods of high rain and flooding it may be easier and more cost-effective to store water in aquifers.

Australian National University Professor Tony Jakeman says it is possible to use managed aquifer recharge to help individual farms, and it could be taken to the regional scale as well.

He told interviewers this week that while geological engineers are still weighing-up the best options to trap water in the ground, there are a few good candidates rising to the top.

In areas closer to streams and other sources, he says water often infiltrates into an aquifer through natural processes.

The case then would be to find an effective method to extract it on demand.

In situations where water does not infiltrate the ground nearby, some equipment could be used to inject it into the deeper earth.

Both options require good methods for getting water back out, but would almost certainly be orders of magnitude cheaper than building and maintaining traditional dams.

The scientists say in some pilot tests so far, one cotton farm saw improvements in productivity ranging from 20 to 50 per cent after costs.

The study continues.