Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site
Artificial recharge of aquifers is a technique for improving water quality and increasing groundwater resources. Understanding the fate of a potential contaminant requires knowledge of the residence time distribution (RTD) of the recharged water in the aquifer beneath. A simple way to obtain the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-10-01
|
| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/20/4209/2016/hess-20-4209-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818671287076126720 |
|---|---|
| author | C. Valhondo C. Valhondo C. Valhondo L. Martínez-Landa L. Martínez-Landa J. Carrera J. Carrera J. J. Hidalgo J. J. Hidalgo I. Tubau I. Tubau K. De Pourcq K. De Pourcq A. Grau-Martínez A. Grau-Martínez C. Ayora C. Ayora |
| author_facet | C. Valhondo C. Valhondo C. Valhondo L. Martínez-Landa L. Martínez-Landa J. Carrera J. Carrera J. J. Hidalgo J. J. Hidalgo I. Tubau I. Tubau K. De Pourcq K. De Pourcq A. Grau-Martínez A. Grau-Martínez C. Ayora C. Ayora |
| author_sort | C. Valhondo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Artificial recharge of aquifers is a technique for improving water quality
and increasing groundwater resources. Understanding the fate of a potential
contaminant requires knowledge of the residence time distribution (RTD) of
the recharged water in the aquifer beneath. A simple way to obtain the RTDs
is to perform a tracer test. We performed a pulse injection tracer test in an
artificial recharge system through an infiltration basin to obtain the
breakthrough curves, which directly yield the RTDs. The RTDs turned out to be
very broad and we used a numerical model to interpret them, to characterize
heterogeneity, and to extend the model to other flow conditions. The model
comprised nine layers at the site scaled to emulate the layering of aquifer
deposits. Two types of hypotheses were considered: homogeneous (all flow and
transport parameters identical for every layer) and heterogeneous (diverse
parameters for each layer). The parameters were calibrated against the head
and concentration data in both model types, which were validated quite
satisfactorily against 1,1,2-Trichloroethane and electrical conductivity data
collected over a long period of time with highly varying flow conditions. We
found that the broad RTDs can be attributed to the complex flow structure
generated under the basin due to three-dimensionality and time fluctuations
(the homogeneous model produced broad RTDs) and the heterogeneity of the
media (the heterogeneous model yielded much better fits). We conclude that
heterogeneity must be acknowledged to properly assess mixing and broad RTDs,
which are required to explain the water quality improvement of artificial
recharge basins. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:21:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae4eb713a2884d2a81d2c0b06366c0ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T07:21:36Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae4eb713a2884d2a81d2c0b06366c0ab2022-12-21T21:58:45ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382016-10-01204209422110.5194/hess-20-4209-2016Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge siteC. Valhondo0C. Valhondo1C. Valhondo2L. Martínez-Landa3L. Martínez-Landa4J. Carrera5J. Carrera6J. J. Hidalgo7J. J. Hidalgo8I. Tubau9I. Tubau10K. De Pourcq11K. De Pourcq12A. Grau-Martínez13A. Grau-Martínez14C. Ayora15C. Ayora16Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, SpainAssociated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC)Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, SpainAssociated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC)Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, SpainAssociated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC)Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, SpainAssociated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC)Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, SpainAssociated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC)Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, SpainAssociated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC)Grup de Mineralogia Aplicada i Geoquímica de Fluids, Departament de Cristal.lografia, Mineralogia i Dipòsits Minerals, SIMGEO UB-CSIC, Facultad de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), C/ Martí i Franquès, s/n 08028 Barcelona, SpainComunitat d'usuaris d'Aigües del delta del Llobregat, Av. de la Verge de Montserrat 133, 08820 El Prat del Llobregat, Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, SpainAssociated Unit: Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC)Artificial recharge of aquifers is a technique for improving water quality and increasing groundwater resources. Understanding the fate of a potential contaminant requires knowledge of the residence time distribution (RTD) of the recharged water in the aquifer beneath. A simple way to obtain the RTDs is to perform a tracer test. We performed a pulse injection tracer test in an artificial recharge system through an infiltration basin to obtain the breakthrough curves, which directly yield the RTDs. The RTDs turned out to be very broad and we used a numerical model to interpret them, to characterize heterogeneity, and to extend the model to other flow conditions. The model comprised nine layers at the site scaled to emulate the layering of aquifer deposits. Two types of hypotheses were considered: homogeneous (all flow and transport parameters identical for every layer) and heterogeneous (diverse parameters for each layer). The parameters were calibrated against the head and concentration data in both model types, which were validated quite satisfactorily against 1,1,2-Trichloroethane and electrical conductivity data collected over a long period of time with highly varying flow conditions. We found that the broad RTDs can be attributed to the complex flow structure generated under the basin due to three-dimensionality and time fluctuations (the homogeneous model produced broad RTDs) and the heterogeneity of the media (the heterogeneous model yielded much better fits). We conclude that heterogeneity must be acknowledged to properly assess mixing and broad RTDs, which are required to explain the water quality improvement of artificial recharge basins.https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/20/4209/2016/hess-20-4209-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | C. Valhondo C. Valhondo C. Valhondo L. Martínez-Landa L. Martínez-Landa J. Carrera J. Carrera J. J. Hidalgo J. J. Hidalgo I. Tubau I. Tubau K. De Pourcq K. De Pourcq A. Grau-Martínez A. Grau-Martínez C. Ayora C. Ayora Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site |
| title_full | Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site |
| title_fullStr | Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site |
| title_short | Tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local-scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site |
| title_sort | tracer test modeling for characterizing heterogeneity and local scale residence time distribution in an artificial recharge site |
| url | https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/20/4209/2016/hess-20-4209-2016.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cvalhondo tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT cvalhondo tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT cvalhondo tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT lmartinezlanda tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT lmartinezlanda tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT jcarrera tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT jcarrera tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT jjhidalgo tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT jjhidalgo tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT itubau tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT itubau tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT kdepourcq tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT kdepourcq tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT agraumartinez tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT agraumartinez tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT cayora tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite AT cayora tracertestmodelingforcharacterizingheterogeneityandlocalscaleresidencetimedistributioninanartificialrechargesite |