Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain
Lindane (a harmful contaminant) was produced in Sabiñánigo (Huesca, Spain) and deposited at the Sardas landfill. This site contains a large mass of pollutants, which have an extremely large contamination potential of the Ebre River. The site has undergone numerous human interventions that have modif...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/19/3457 |
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| author | Javier Samper Brais Sobral Bruno Pisani Acacia Naves Joaquín Guadaño Jorge Gómez Jesús Fernández |
| author_facet | Javier Samper Brais Sobral Bruno Pisani Acacia Naves Joaquín Guadaño Jorge Gómez Jesús Fernández |
| author_sort | Javier Samper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lindane (a harmful contaminant) was produced in Sabiñánigo (Huesca, Spain) and deposited at the Sardas landfill. This site contains a large mass of pollutants, which have an extremely large contamination potential of the Ebre River. The site has undergone numerous human interventions that have modified the natural conditions. The site exhibits complex hydrogeological patterns and has been monitored systematically for a long period of time, and a large amount of geological, hydrological, and hydrogeological data are available. Here, a 2D finite element groundwater flow model along a vertical profile heading east–west along the thalweg of the former gully is presented. The main goal is modelling groundwater flow through the landfill, the Gállego River alluvial aquifer, and its interactions with the Sabiñánigo reservoir. The numerical model confirms the prevailing conceptual hydrogeological model of the site. The main results include: (1) Groundwater flows into the landfill mainly along perimeter ditches, which do not properly drain the surface and subsurface runoff (13.84 m<sup>3</sup>/d) and from the underlying marly rock (8.84 m<sup>3</sup>/d); (2) The total landfill leachate outflow towards the alluvial floodplain underneath the front slurry wall through a shallow marl layer is equal to 17 m<sup>3</sup>/d; (3) The oscillations of the Sabiñánigo reservoir water level produce a tidal effect that results in periodic changes of the hydraulic gradient between the alluvial gravels and the reservoir; (4) Groundwater flows generally from the alluvial aquifer towards the reservoir in an average E–W direction with an average Darcy velocity equal to 5 cm/d. The flow direction, however, changes to W–E when the reservoir level rises suddenly and; (5) The hydrodynamic parameters of the alluvial silts and reservoir silting sediments are crucial in determining the influence radius of the inversion of groundwater flow direction when the reservoir level rises suddenly. Model results enhance the confidence of the conceptual model, provide the basis for detailed specific models of the landfill and the alluvial aquifer, and highlight the importance of considering the tidal effect of the reservoir level oscillations. They also provide valuable information for managing the landfill and its impact on the surrounding groundwater system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:51:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8849439334934c8e89a42bb0594e2cff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:51:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-8849439334934c8e89a42bb0594e2cff2023-11-30T20:50:12ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-09-011519345710.3390/w15193457Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, SpainJavier Samper0Brais Sobral1Bruno Pisani2Acacia Naves3Joaquín Guadaño4Jorge Gómez5Jesús Fernández6Civil Engineering School, Interdisciplinary Center for Biology and Chemistry (CICA), Universidade de A Coruña, Campus de Elviña, 15071 A Coruña, SpainCivil Engineering School, Interdisciplinary Center for Biology and Chemistry (CICA), Universidade de A Coruña, Campus de Elviña, 15071 A Coruña, SpainCivil Engineering School, Interdisciplinary Center for Biology and Chemistry (CICA), Universidade de A Coruña, Campus de Elviña, 15071 A Coruña, SpainCivil Engineering School, Interdisciplinary Center for Biology and Chemistry (CICA), Universidade de A Coruña, Campus de Elviña, 15071 A Coruña, SpainEmpresa para la Gestión de Residuos Industriales, S.A., S.M.E., M.P., EMGRISA, C/ Santiago Rusiñol 12, 28040 Madrid, SpainEmpresa para la Gestión de Residuos Industriales, S.A., S.M.E., M.P., EMGRISA, C/ Santiago Rusiñol 12, 28040 Madrid, SpainUnidad para la Descontaminación Integral del Lindano, Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Turismo, Gobierno de Aragón, San Pedro Nolasco, 7, 50071 Zaragoza, SpainLindane (a harmful contaminant) was produced in Sabiñánigo (Huesca, Spain) and deposited at the Sardas landfill. This site contains a large mass of pollutants, which have an extremely large contamination potential of the Ebre River. The site has undergone numerous human interventions that have modified the natural conditions. The site exhibits complex hydrogeological patterns and has been monitored systematically for a long period of time, and a large amount of geological, hydrological, and hydrogeological data are available. Here, a 2D finite element groundwater flow model along a vertical profile heading east–west along the thalweg of the former gully is presented. The main goal is modelling groundwater flow through the landfill, the Gállego River alluvial aquifer, and its interactions with the Sabiñánigo reservoir. The numerical model confirms the prevailing conceptual hydrogeological model of the site. The main results include: (1) Groundwater flows into the landfill mainly along perimeter ditches, which do not properly drain the surface and subsurface runoff (13.84 m<sup>3</sup>/d) and from the underlying marly rock (8.84 m<sup>3</sup>/d); (2) The total landfill leachate outflow towards the alluvial floodplain underneath the front slurry wall through a shallow marl layer is equal to 17 m<sup>3</sup>/d; (3) The oscillations of the Sabiñánigo reservoir water level produce a tidal effect that results in periodic changes of the hydraulic gradient between the alluvial gravels and the reservoir; (4) Groundwater flows generally from the alluvial aquifer towards the reservoir in an average E–W direction with an average Darcy velocity equal to 5 cm/d. The flow direction, however, changes to W–E when the reservoir level rises suddenly and; (5) The hydrodynamic parameters of the alluvial silts and reservoir silting sediments are crucial in determining the influence radius of the inversion of groundwater flow direction when the reservoir level rises suddenly. Model results enhance the confidence of the conceptual model, provide the basis for detailed specific models of the landfill and the alluvial aquifer, and highlight the importance of considering the tidal effect of the reservoir level oscillations. They also provide valuable information for managing the landfill and its impact on the surrounding groundwater system.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/19/3457HCHlindanelandfillgroundwater pollutionprofilenumerical model |
| spellingShingle | Javier Samper Brais Sobral Bruno Pisani Acacia Naves Joaquín Guadaño Jorge Gómez Jesús Fernández Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain Water HCH lindane landfill groundwater pollution profile numerical model |
| title | Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain |
| title_full | Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain |
| title_short | Groundwater Flow Model along a Vertical Profile of the Sardas Landfill in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain |
| title_sort | groundwater flow model along a vertical profile of the sardas landfill in sabinanigo huesca spain |
| topic | HCH lindane landfill groundwater pollution profile numerical model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/19/3457 |
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