Problem statement. A contaminant plume has been in contact below. The concentrat

Question

Problem statement. A contaminant plume has been in contact below. The concentration of the contaminant in the aquifer in contact with an underlying silt layer is 300 mg/L over the 15 years. The aquifer is 5 m thick and the plume contacts the silt layer over an area 40 m along the flow direction and 8 m perpendicular (into the page in the figure). The effective diffusion with an aquitard for 15 years as shown coefficient and porosity of the silt are D.-6 × 10-10' silt is zero. 0.35 and the initial concentration in the plume c = 300 mg/L sand 40 m silt

Explanation / Answer

ANSWER:

The pollutant creates a contaminant plume within an aquifer. Movement of water and dispersion within the aquifer spreads the pollutant over a wider area. Its advancing boundary, often called a plume edge, can intersect with groundwater wells or daylight into surface water such as seeps and spring, making the water supplies unsafe for humans and wildlife. The movement of the plume, called a plume front, may be analyzed through a hydrological transport model or groundwater model. Analysis of groundwater pollution may focus on soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants.

Pollution can occur from on-site sanitation systems, landfills, effluent from wastewater treatment plants, leaking sewers, petrol filling stationsor from over application of fertilizers in agriculture. Pollution (or contamination) can also occur from naturally occurring contaminants, such as arsenic or fluoride. Using polluted groundwater causes hazards to public health through poisoning or the spread of disease.

Different mechanisms have influence on the transport of pollutants, e.g. diffusion, adsorption, precipitation, decay, in the groundwater. The interaction of groundwater contamination with surface waters is analyzed by use of hydrology transport models.

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