Pathlines of pollutant migration in groundwater of the Visakhapatnam urban area,India

The groundwater regime in the north‐western part of the Visakhapatnam urban area was polluted as early as 1981 by discharge of untreated industrial effluent from a Hindustan Polymers Limited (HPL) plant. A total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of surficial effluent up to 6500 mg/l and of groundwater in the range 3000–4200 mg/l has been reported in the environs of the HPL plant during May 1992. Groundwater occurs under water table conditions. The groundwater flow model was simulated as a single layer aquifer, using MODFLOW and FLOWPATH computer models. Aquifer parameters were estimated and the value of effective porosity assumed. The water table configuration was mapped in May 1981 using 33 observation wells. The calibrated hydraulic head distribution was used to compute the velocity field using the effective porosity values. The flow paths of groundwater migration from the source locations up to 2002 AD were predicted. Pathlines of particles in the groundwater indicated a predominant north‐east and south‐west migration of groundwater pollution in the area. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.