Karst hydrology and chemical contamination
Ground-water flow in karst aquifers is very different from flow in granular or fractured aquifers. Chemical contamination may be fed directly to a karst aquifer via overland flow to a sinkhole with little or no attenuation and may contaminate downgradient wells, springs, and sinkholes within a few hours or a few days. Contaminants may also become temporarily stored in the epikarstic zone for eventual release to the aquifer. Flood pulses may flush the contaminants to cause transiently higher levels of contamination in the aquifer and discharge points. The convergent nature of flow in karst aquifers may result in contaminants becoming concentrated in conduits. Once contaminants have reached the subsurface conduits, they are likely to be rapidly transported to spring outlets. Traditional aquifer remediation techniques for contaminated aquifers are less applicable to karst aquifers.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States). Office of Health and Environmental Assessment
- OSTI ID:
- 5273028
- Report Number(s):
- PB-94-135134/XAB; EPA-600/J-93/510
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Jnl. of Environmental Systems, Vol. 22, No. 1, 1-26(1992/93)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Stability of a Uranium-Contaminated Plume in a Karst Aquifer in Northwest New Mexico - 19574
Geohydrology of karst terrain, Lost River Watershed southern Indiana. Report of investigation No. 7