Coupled hydrogeological and reactive transport modelling of the Simpevarp area (Sweden)

The Simpevarp area is one of the alternative sites being considered for the deep geological disposal of high level radioactive waste in Sweden. In this paper, a coupled regional groundwater flow and reactive solute transport model of the Simpevarp area is presented that integrates current hydrogeological and hydrochemical data of the area. The model simulates the current hydrochemical pattern of the groundwater system in the area. To that aim, a conceptual hydrochemical model was developed in order to represent the dominant chemical processes. Groundwater flow conditions were reproduced by taking into account fluid-density-dependent groundwater flow and regional hydrogeologic boundary conditions. Reactive solute transport calculations were performed on the basis of the velocity field so obtained. The model was calibrated and sensitivity analyses were carried out in order to investigate the effects of heterogeneities of hydraulic conductivity in the subsurface medium. Results provided by the reactive transport model are in good agreement with much of the measured hydrochemical data. This paper emphasizes the appropriateness of the use of reactive solute transport models when water-rock interaction reactions are involved, and demonstrates what powerful tools they are for the interpretation of hydrogeological and hydrochemical data from site geological repository characterization programs, by providing a qualitative framework for data analysis and testing of conceptual assumptions in a process-oriented approach.     

Analysis of colloidal transfer of strontium-90 with groundwater

The colloidal fractions of various particle sizes were separated from the samples of groundwater in the area of radioactive contamination nearby Obninsk (Kaluga region, Russia). The primary component of the radioactive contamination is ⁹⁰Sr isotope. The colloidal particles were separated from the samples of groundwater by means of ultrafiltration through membranes of 200, 100, and 25 nm pore sizes. The chemical composition of particle surfaces in each of the fractions was determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The structure of particles was determined by the changes in the surface composition after the removal of outer layers of particles by etching with argon ions to a depth of 100 Å. It was found that the particles are constituted by inorganic cores mainly of montmorillonite and iron metahydroxide and a broken covering of humic acids. It was shown that about 50% of ⁹⁰Sr is transferred by groundwater with colloidal particles of over 25 nm in size.     

Model of colloidal transportation of radionuclides by groundwater

The transportation of colloidal radionuclides by groundwater was subject to theoretical analysis. The far field of radioactive contamination of the underground environment (liquid waste pumping sites or storage of solidified waste) is dominated by pseudocolloids, i.e., colloidal particles of natural origin contaminated with radionuclides upon contact of groundwater with radioactive materials. Properties of real pseudocolloids were analyzed at sites of radioactive contamination of the underground environment. Based on a probabilistic approach, we developed a mathematical model of pseudocolloid transportation by groundwater, taking into account the difference in size of colloidal particles and the occurrence of nonradioactive natural particles with a similar composition in the groundwater. It is proved that nonuniform dimensions of the particles considerably affect the water transportation rate.     

Structure of colloid particles in groundwaters on the territory of the Mayak production association and its impact on the colloid transport of radionuclides in subsoil environments

Colloid particles were examined in groundwaters sampled at the large contamination area of the subsoil environment at the Mayak production association in the Southern Urals. Colloid particles were separated from groundwater samples by ultrafiltration, and their composition and structure were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger spectroscopy (AS). Our results indicate that the chemical composition of the particles significantly varies at their surface and along their radii, from the peripheries to the cores of the particles. The data are used to estimate the possibility of utilizing properties of colloid particles contained in groundwaters (the composition, structure, and zeta potential of such particles) to numerically simulate the spreading of radioactive contamination with groundwaters with regard to the colloid mode of radionuclide transport. It is demonstrated that, along with transmitting electron spectroscopy (TEM) coupled with X-ray microprobe analysis and electron diffraction, the XPS and AS techniques make it possible to obtain information on heterogeneity in the distribution and modes of occurrence of various elements in colloid particles.     

Effect of colloids on transfer of radionuclides by subsurface water

The fluid transfer of radionuclides in the geologic medium is considered under conditions when radionuclides are contained in fluids not only as solutes but also as colloids. The effect of colloidal transport of radionuclides on the rate of spreading of radioactive contamination in an underground medium is estimated, with assessment of this effect in mathematical models describing the transport of radionuclides by subsurface water. For this purpose, the exchange of radionuclides between subsurface water, colloid, and an immobile solid phase is considered, taking into account the precipitation of colloidal particles on both the immobile solid phase and other colloidal particles and their recurrent mobilization into the liquid phase. It is noted that, in real colloidal transfer, the heterogeneity of the geologic medium and colloidal particles in subsurface water is of great importance. The known models of colloidal transfer of radionuclides are evaluated on the basis of the analysis performed.     

Ways of investigating radionuclide migration processes in the lithosphere and hydrosphere

In Russia, until recently, it was considered that groundwater was protected from surface radioactive contamination by soil and rocks in the zone aeration. Groundwater was not a subject of radiation control. The accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant showed, however, that groundwater is vulnerable to radioactive contamination. In this connection, the vulnerability of groundwater to and the problems of protecting groundwater from radioactive contamination became urgent. The assessment of natural protection of groundwater from radioactive contamination is now considered a top priority. The zone of aeration is generally considered to be the zone separating groundwater from surface contamination. In respect to radioactive contamination, soils that may fix a large quantity of radionuclides serve as a protection zone of a higher order. The mapping of protectibility was done for each radionuclide taking into consideration the specific structure of the flow medium and migration properties of a radionuclide.⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs have different mechanisms of transport; convective transport is characteristic of the former and diffusive transfer of the latter. This is conditioned by different physico-chemical properties of the radionuclides and principally by their sorption capacities. The coefficient of distribution of⁹⁰Sr is in many times less than the coefficient of distribution of¹³⁷Cs. The environmental protection problem in regions with nuclear power plants and in areas subjected to radioactive contamination may be solved using a monitoring, system including interrelated systems of observation and prediction of the lithosphere and the hydrosphere. The problem of mathematical modeling of migration processes is related to the complexities of modeling the processes of flow, mass transfer, and the accompanying physicochemical processes in zones of full and partial saturation, as well as difficulties in mathematical calculations.     

淄博地下水中生物降解作用的水化学判别

环境调查研究表明,大武地下水水源地上游邻近的石化厂区出现严重的地下管道石油污染物持续泄漏现象。堠皋－柳杭地段地下水环境在成为集中污染地段的同时,水文地球化学环境也发生了迥然的变化：地下水中电子接受体溶解氧,ＮＯ３＾－末检出,ＳＯ４＾２－呈低值分布。这与地下水中存在微生物降解烃污染物的作用有关。其作用类型包括需氧降解,脱硝降解,脱硫降解以及有Ｆｅ＾３＋参与的降解作用。然而由于该地段需氧降解、脱硝降解、脱硫降懈以及有F3+参与的降解作用。然而由于废地段需氧降解、脱硝降懈难以进行,导致了生物降解污染物的速度降低 其研究意义是提高地下水中电子接受体的浓度．增强微生物的活性,以促进生物降解速度,将有利于含水层中这类污染物的清除。     

Hydrochemical characteristics and geochemistry evolution of groundwater in the plain area of the Lake Baiyangdian watershed,North China Plain

Water cycle and water quality in the Lake Baiyangdian watershed of the North China Plain have undergone great changes due to over-pumping of groundwater and wastewater discharge.In this paper,hydrogeochemical data was collected to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics and geochemistry evolution of groundwater.The study area was divided into two typical parts.One was in the upstream plain area,where over-pumping had resulted in significant decline of groundwater level;the other one was located in the downstream area near the Fu River and Lake Baiyangdian(Lake BYD region).In addition to the natural weathering of minerals,excessive fertilizer was also a main factor of higher ion concentration in groundwater.According to studies,due to good permeability,these regions were easy to be polluted even with deep groundwater depth.However,upstream shallow groundwater and surface water,including lake water,domestic along with industrial wastewater were all sources of present shallow groundwater in the Lake BYD region.Results indicated that anthropogenic activities rather than minerals much matter to the groundwater in these regions.Particularly,wastewater largely decided the groundwater quality,which suggested that the management and restoration of surface water quality was crucial to groundwater protection.     

Semi-empirical equations for the systematic decrease in permeability with depth in porous and fractured media

Permeability loss with depth is a general trend in geological media and plays an essential role in subsurface fluid flow and solute transport. In the near surface zone where groundwater movement is active, the decrease in permeability with depth is dominated by the mechanical compaction of deformable media caused by the increase in lithostatic stress with depth. Instead of using empirical equations from statistical analysis, by considering the well-defined relationships among permeability, porosity, fracture aperture and effective stress under lithostatic conditions, new semi-empirical equations for the systematic depth-dependent permeability are derived, as well as the equations for the depth-dependent porosity in a porous medium and the depth-dependent fracture aperture in a fractured medium. The existing empirical equations can be included in the new equations as special cases under some simplification. These new semi-empirical equations perform better than previous equations to interpret the depth-dependent permeability of the Pierre Shale (with a maximum depth of approximately 4,500 m) and the granite at Stripa, Sweden (with a maximum depth of about 2,500 m).     

Deposition of heterogeneous radiocolloid from groundwater on enclosing rocks

A model of precipitation of radiocolloid particles on enclosing rocks at colloid-facilitated transport of radionuclides by groundwater is considered. The model proposed is based on probabilistic analysis of deposition of heterogeneous colloidal particles on fixed sites of groundwater filtration channels, which are formed by connected systems of pore_ and fracture voids in enclosing rocks. The model takes into account heterogeneity of the system of colloidal particles and competition of different particles for the same potential deposition sites. Theoretical analysis is based on the solution of the system of Kolmogorov-Feller equations. The limit values of the obtained solutions correspond to the equilibrium distribution of radiocolloid particles of different sizes between the groundwater and the enclosing rocks. In the case of a homogeneous system of particles, the obtained distribution is reduced to the Langmuir isotherm.     

太湖流域某地区浅层地下水有机污染特征

对太湖流域某地区浅层地下水有机污染特征进行了总结，并就污染来源、污染途径和典型污染源附近浅层地下水有机污染特征等问题进行了研究。研究结果表明，该地区浅层地下水中各组分的检出率较高，但检出浓度较低，除苯在个别采样点处超出美国环保局（EPA）饮用水标准外，其余卤代烃和单环芳烃组分均没有超标；平面分布上，卤代烃和单环芳烃各组分的浓度高值点大都集中于该地区东南部的工业区内，这种空间分布特征与工业区的分布具有明显的一致性；垂向上有浅部地下水的污染程度相对较重、深部地下水较轻的特点；典型污染源周边浅层地下水的污染程度较重，但随着采样点远离污染源，地下水中各有机污染组分的浓度迅速衰减。     

Risk Assessment on Organic Contamination of Shallow Groundwater of an Oilfield in Northeast China

With the oil contaminated site of an oil field in northeast as the research area, based on the site geological and hydrogeological conditions, and by virtue of the methods of assessment on current situation of organic contamination and environmental impact assessment as well as leaching mobility assessment on organics, the internal and external risk assessments on organic contamination of shallow groundwater in the research area are conducted respectively. According to the results, about 30 kinds of organic components, including chlorinated hydrocarbons, mononuclear aromatics, heteroaromatic compound, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and n-alkanes, are detected in the shallow groundwater in the research area. The current situation contamination of dichloromethane is the most serious, and all well points are of contamination at medium or above level. Compared with dichloromethane, contamination of trichloromethane and benzene is lighter, but several seriously contaminated well points occur in these two groups. The leaching mobility of dichloromethane, trichloromethane and benzene is extremely high, posing the greatest contamination risks against groundwater.     

Recharge and contamination sources of shallow and deep groundwater of pleistocene aquifer in El-Sadat industrial city: isotope and hydrochemical approaches

Hydrochemical and isotopic researches were conducted in El-Sadat City groundwater system to identify groundwater alteration, recharge, residence time and extent of pollution. The groundwater salinity gradually increases as the groundwater moves from northeastern to southwestern parts of the city. Groundwater generally shows mineralization decreasing with depth, indicating that the possibility of recent water penetration far below the surface is limited. Shallow groundwater has an elevated level of nitrate, which is attributed to anthropogenic sources due to intensive agricultural activity. The limit of high nitrate water may mark the maximum penetration of groundwater from the surface, which is found in depths <100 m. The northeastern and southwestern industrial areas are highly contaminated by some heavy metals, which may originate from some local industrial effluents. The sewage oxidation ponds seem to show no effect on groundwater; hence, these ponds are not a point source for these heavy metals. Dissolved ions depict five different hydrochemical facies, and stable isotopes define the recharge mechanisms, the origin of groundwater and the hydraulic confinement of deep groundwater. The deep groundwater is untritiated and has long residence times (in the order of thousands of years). Three different hydrochemical groups have been recognized and mapped in El-Sadat City, based on the chemical and isotopic information of the groundwater. These groups have different levels of contamination. The deep groundwater samples are significantly less impacted by surface activities and it appears that these important water resources have very low recharge rates and would, therefore, be severely impacted by overabstraction. The extensive exploitation of groundwater for drinking water supply would shortly be reflected by a gradual decline of the groundwater table in El-Sadat City. Amelioration of groundwater quality requires further management strategies and efforts in the forthcoming years.     

Geochemistry of natural and contaminated subsurface waters in fissured bed rocks of the Lake Karachai area, Southern Urals, Russia

Hydrogeochemical investigations of natural and contaminated subsurface waters were conducted between 1992–94 in an area where liquid radioactive waste (RAW) was impounded in a small lake, and subsequently leaked into an underlying water bearing horizon. The waste was discharged from the radiochemical plant of the Mayak Amalgamated Industry near Chelyabinsk, Russia. The underlying water-bearing horizon in fissured metavolcanic rocks was penetrated by uncased observation wells in order to log the hydrogeochemistry. Logging was carried out using a specially designed hydrogeochemical probe, which contained 8 channels to measure continuously the temperature, pressure, electric conductivity, pH, Eh, the dissolved O₂ concentration, and the activities of Na, and NO₃ in the wells. The logging technique enabled the natural hydrogeochemical setting to be characterized and permitted delineation of bodies of contaminated waters of different origins using measurements of pH, pNa and pNO₃. The technique also permitted an evaluation of variations in the chemical composition of the RAW solutions due to radiolytic processes and to chemical interactions with the geologic medium. A conceptual model is proposed for the chemical evolution of the migrating contaminated subsurface waters in the area investigated.     

TECHNICAL NOTE An experimental investigation of air flow patterns in saturated soils during air sparging

Air sparging is an emerging method used to remediate saturated soils and groundwater that have been contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). During air sparging, air is injected into the subsurface below the lowest known depth of contamination. Due to buoyancy, the injected air will rise through the zone of contamination. Through a variety of mechanisms, including volatilization and biodegradation, the air will serve to remove or help degrade the contaminants. The contaminant-laden air will continue to rise towards the ground surface, eventually reaching the vadose zone, where the vapours are collected and treated using a soil vapour extraction (SVE) system.Air sparging performance and ultimately contaminant removal efficiency is highly dependent on the pattern and type of subsurface air flow. This paper presents the results of a laboratory experimental study which investigated the injected air flow pattern development within an aquifer simulation apparatus. The test apparatus consisted of a tank measuring 61 cm long by 25.4 cm wide by 38.1 cm high. The apparatus was equipped with one air injection well and two vapour extracton wells. Three different soils were used to simulate different aquifer conditions, including a sand, a fine gravel and a medium gravel. Experiments were performed with different injected air pressures combined with different vacuum and groundwater flow conditions. Experiments were also conducted by injecting air into simulated shallow aquifers with different thicknesses. The air flow patterns observed were found to depend significantly on the soil type, groundwater flow conditions and system controls, including injected air pressure, flow rate and applied vacuum. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

A review on the aging phenomena of organic components and their mass transfer through the NAPL interfacial phase

It occurs worldwide that the organic components of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) enter the porous medium and become the source of contaminants in the subsurface. The transport of the organic components through NAPL interphase into the aqueous phase and the subsurface determines the extent of contamination, the persistence of residual NAPL phases and the techniques of remediation. During the transport process the NAPL interphase may experience "aging", a physical and chemical change when NAPL is exposed to aqueous and or gaseous phases. This aging process alters vice versa the mass transfer behaviour of the organic contaminants in the porous medium.     

A geospatial investigation of interlinkage between basement fault architecture and coastal aquifer hydrogeochemistry

The Mahanadi delta, deposited on a series of horst and graben basement structures, is considered an extension of the East Lambert Rift of Antarctica. Current study is based on the hydrogeochemical assessment of this deltaic aquifer system and geospatial analysis thereof, to appreciate the basement structure influence on groundwater chemistry. Major ion chemistry of subsurface waters portrays a distinct saline contamination across the terrain and varied regimes of water types, specifically with respect to southern and northern parts of this aquifer system. Findings of the study indicate a general near surface saline horizon and significant fragmentation of the hydrostatic units. This, in turn, implies noteworthy influence of formational water to salinity regimes and basin structural changes for the escape of these waters to surroundings. A plot of recent low intensity earthquakes displays proximity of epicenters to the faults as well as striking similarity to the trend of terrestrial faults indicating multiple reactivations of the faults. To further corroborate the above findings, spatial pattern analysis of individual hydrochemical variables is carried out which reveals specific clusters of sources (groundwater mixing) and sinks (groundwater dispersion) in proximity to basement fault dispositions. While the faults can be disregarded as conduits or barriers owing to their great depth, the overlying sedimentary mass, particularly, the horizons with significant clayey content have been distorted due to post rift subsidence and fault reactivations. A proximity analysis of ionic clusters points towards a greater influence of longitudinal faults to that of the transverse ones on groundwater mixing or dispersion.     

Nitrate contamination in a shallow urban aquifer in East Ukraine: evidence from hydrochemical,stable isotopes of nitrate and land use analysis

A combined hydrochemical and stable isotope approach was used to investigate the origin of nitrate in the shallow unconfined groundwater of Kharkiv city, Eastern Ukraine. The contamination was investigated in the context of land use within the catchment area. The observed enrichment of sulfate, chloride and nitrate suggests significant groundwater contamination in the shallow urban aquifer, which is widely used as drinking water source for the urban population. Characteristic nitrate/chloride ratios as well as stable isotope ratios (N and O) of nitrate in the most contaminated springs confirmed that septic waste from leaky sewer systems was the main source of nitrate contamination in the groundwater. Nitrate contamination is linked to the type of land use and sewage treatment regime in the catchment area. It is also modulated by the regional hydrogeology, which determines the susceptibility of a given aquifer toward groundwater pollution. A more quantitative assessment of nitrate sources based on the nitrate isotope analysis alone is rather difficult. However, our study confirms that the combination of hydrochemical tracers, robust land-use analysis and nitrate stable isotope measurements represents a valuable approach to identify the origin of the nitrate contamination.     

Use of molecular approaches in hydrogeological studies: the case of carbonate aquifers in southern Italy

Waterborne pathogens represent a significant health risk in both developed and developing countries with sensitive sub-populations including children, the elderly, neonates, and immune-compromised people, who are particularly susceptible to enteric infections. Annually, approximately 1.8 billion people utilize a faecally contaminated water source, and waterborne diseases are resulting in up to 2.1 million human mortalities globally. Although groundwater has traditionally been considered less susceptible to contamination by enteric pathogens than surface water due to natural attenuation by overlying strata, the degree of microbial removal attributable to soils and aquifers can vary significantly depending on several factors. Thus, accurate assessment of the variable presence and concentration of microbial contaminants, and the relative importance of potentially causative factors affecting contaminant ingress, is critical in order to develop effective source (well) and resource (aquifer) protection strategies. “Traditional” and molecular microbiological study designs, when coupled with hydrogeological, hydrochemical, isotopic, and geophysical methods, have proven useful for analysis of numerous aspects of subsurface microbial dynamics. Accordingly, this overview paper presents the principal microbial techniques currently being employed (1) to predict and identify sources of faecal contamination in groundwater, (2) to elucidate the dynamics of contaminant migration, and (3) to refine knowledge about the hydrogeological characteristics and behaviours of aquifer systems affected by microbial contamination with an emphasis on carbonate aquifers, which represent an important global water supply. Previous investigations carried out in carbonate aquifers in southern Italy are discussed.     

白洋淀渗漏对周边地下水的影响

为查明受污染的白洋淀地表水渗漏范围,对周边地下水主要离子水化学的影响,并评价地下水是否适用于灌溉,在该区域现场测定了地表水及地下水pH、EC(Electric Conductivity)和ORP(Oxidation-Reduction Potential)等参数,采样分析各水体D、¹⁸O和主要离子组成,结合判别分析和钠吸附比R_SA(Sodium Adsorption Ratio)讨论。结果表明,淀水渗漏使浅层地下水电导率升高,氧化还原电位值降低,且更加富集重同位素;唐河污水库周边浅层地下水SO₄^2-和Na⁺含量明显增大。浅层地下水的δ¹⁸O值结合水位埋深有效地标记了淀水渗漏影响地下水的范围。浅层地下水主要受到白洋淀渗漏的影响,唐河污水库附近的浅层地下水受污水库渗漏影响。污染地表水渗漏使得浅层地下水水质普遍下降,白洋淀西部和唐河污水库周边浅层地下水不适宜用于灌溉。