The hydrogeological role of an aquitard in preventing drinkable water well contamination: A case study
- Universita degli Studi di Milano (Italy)
Groundwater pollution has become a worrisome phenomenon, mainly for aquifers underlying industrialized areas. In order to evaluate the risk of pollution, a model of the aquifer is needed. Herewith, we describe a quasi-tridimensional model, which we applied to a multilayered aquifer where a phreatic aquifer was coupled to a confined one by means of an aquitard. This hydrogeological scheme is often met in practice and, therefore, models a number of situations. Moreover, aquitards play and important role in the management of natural resources of this kind. The model we adopted contains some approximations: the flow within the aquifers is assumed to be horizontal, whereas leakage is assumed vertical. The effect of some wells drilled in these aquifers is also taken into account. In order to evaluate the leakage fluxes that correspond to different exploitation conditions, we numerically solve a system of quasilinear and time-dependent partial differential equations. This model has been calibrated by the hydrogeological data from a water supply station of the Milan Water Works, where water is polluted by some halocarbons. Our simulations account for several experimental facts, both from the hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical viewpoints. Maxima of computed downward leakage rates are found to correspond with measured pollutant concentration maxima. Other results show how the aquitard can help in minimizing the contamination of drinkable water.
- OSTI ID:
- 6946307
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Vol. 83; ISSN 0091-6765
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
AQUIFERS
CALIBRATION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
WATER POLLUTION
WATER SUPPLY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SIMULATION
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)