Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, Namibia
The study focused on the seepage of uranium from unlined tailing dams into the alluvial aquifer in the Gawib River floodplain in Namibia where the region solely relies on groundwater for its economic activities as a result of arid climatic condition. The study reviewed previous works besides water s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Hydrology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/4/1/11 |
| _version_ | 1818873321408692224 |
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| author | Tamiru Abiye Ignatius Shaduka |
| author_facet | Tamiru Abiye Ignatius Shaduka |
| author_sort | Tamiru Abiye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study focused on the seepage of uranium from unlined tailing dams into the alluvial aquifer in the Gawib River floodplain in Namibia where the region solely relies on groundwater for its economic activities as a result of arid climatic condition. The study reviewed previous works besides water sample collection and analyses for major ions, metals and environmental isotopes in addition to field tests on physico-chemical parameters (pH, Electrical Conductivity, Redox and T). Estimation of seepage velocity (true velocity of groundwater flow) has been conducted in order to understand the extent of radioactive plume transport. The hydrochemistry, stable isotopes and tritium results show that there is uranium contamination from the unlined uranium tailings in the Gawib shallow aquifer system which suggests high permeability of the alluvial aquifer facilitating groundwater flow in the arid region. The radioactive contaminants could spread into the deeper aquifer system through the major structures such as joints and faults. The contamination plume could also spread downstream into the Swakop River unless serious interventions are employed. There is also a very high risk of the plume to reach the Atlantic Ocean through seasonal flash floods that occurs in the area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:52:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27c9313933ae4a25b622a25de3b53723 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-5338 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:52:51Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology |
| spelling | doaj.art-27c9313933ae4a25b622a25de3b537232022-12-21T20:20:28ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382017-02-01411110.3390/hydrology4010011hydrology4010011Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, NamibiaTamiru Abiye0Ignatius Shaduka1School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, P.O. Box Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South AfricaDirectorate of Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Authority, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Windhoek, 9000, NamibiaThe study focused on the seepage of uranium from unlined tailing dams into the alluvial aquifer in the Gawib River floodplain in Namibia where the region solely relies on groundwater for its economic activities as a result of arid climatic condition. The study reviewed previous works besides water sample collection and analyses for major ions, metals and environmental isotopes in addition to field tests on physico-chemical parameters (pH, Electrical Conductivity, Redox and T). Estimation of seepage velocity (true velocity of groundwater flow) has been conducted in order to understand the extent of radioactive plume transport. The hydrochemistry, stable isotopes and tritium results show that there is uranium contamination from the unlined uranium tailings in the Gawib shallow aquifer system which suggests high permeability of the alluvial aquifer facilitating groundwater flow in the arid region. The radioactive contaminants could spread into the deeper aquifer system through the major structures such as joints and faults. The contamination plume could also spread downstream into the Swakop River unless serious interventions are employed. There is also a very high risk of the plume to reach the Atlantic Ocean through seasonal flash floods that occurs in the area.http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/4/1/11groundwater flowshallow aquiferuranium seepageNamibia |
| spellingShingle | Tamiru Abiye Ignatius Shaduka Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, Namibia Hydrology groundwater flow shallow aquifer uranium seepage Namibia |
| title | Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, Namibia |
| title_full | Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, Namibia |
| title_short | Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium Mines, Namibia |
| title_sort | radioactive seepage through groundwater flow from the uranium mines namibia |
| topic | groundwater flow shallow aquifer uranium seepage Namibia |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/4/1/11 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tamiruabiye radioactiveseepagethroughgroundwaterflowfromtheuraniumminesnamibia AT ignatiusshaduka radioactiveseepagethroughgroundwaterflowfromtheuraniumminesnamibia |