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Vol. 8  No. 7

GROUNDWATER MOUNDING SCENARIO
&
**NEW** SOLINST PERISTALTIC PUMP

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A Groundwater Mounding Scenario

In the following scenario, we will describe one method of calculating the relevant information, and determining the mounding of groundwater using example field/lab data, and some of the calculators available from GroundwaterSoftware.com.

A property owner is aware of a contaminant plume located in the vadose zone under a 30 m by 45 m grassy area of his site.  Natural attenuation keeps the plume located at approximately 9 meters above a known aquitard.  They have two monitoring wells, 45 meters apart, with the contamination slightly offset in between them (30 meters from the upgradient well, and 15 meters from the downgradient well).  They have pumps installed in the wells so that under significant rainfall events, water can be pumped to prevent the water table from reaching the contamination and allowing it to migrate further.  They would like to know if the groundwater is expected to mound up to the plume at a percolation rate of 7 x 10^-7 m/s over two days.

The water table is located 8 meters above the aquitard in the upgradient well, and 6 meters above the aquitard in the downgradient well. Analysis of soil samples yielded an average porosity of 0.25, and a d₁₀ value of 0.13 mm.  The specific yield of the aquifer is estimated as 0.01 m, and the average groundwater temperature is considered to be approximately 10 degrees Celcius.

Step 1: Determine Initial Water Level Below Contamination

Use Calculator #2 (Linear Interpolation Calculator)

Input:

X₁ = 0 m; Y₁ = 8 m

X₂ = 45 m; Y₂ = 6 m

X₃ = 30 m

Output:

Initial Water Level =6.67 m

 

Step 2: Determine Hydraulic Conductivity

Use Calculator #6 (Hydraulic Conductivity Estimate)

Input:

Groundwater temperature = 10 ^oC

Porosity = 0.25

d₁₀ = 0.00013 m

Output:

Hydraulic Conductivity = 2.9 x 10^-5 m/s

 

Step 3: Determine Groundwater Mounding Below the Contamination

Use Calculator #9 (Groundwater Mounding below a Rectangular Recharge Area)

Input:

Percolation Rate = 7 x 10^-7 m/s

Hydraulic Conductivity = 2.9 x 10^-5 m/s

Specific Yield = 0.01

Time = 172800 s

Initial Saturated Thickness = 6.67 m

Length of Recharge Area = 45 m

Width of Recharge Area = 30 m

Output:

Increase in Hydraulic Head = 1.15 m

Maximum Hydraulic Head = 7.82 m

 

Therefore, this percolation rate would not cause the water table to reach the contamination area.

There are several commercial programs that are also able to calculate groundwater mounding, including MODFLOW and Groundwater Vistas.

 

References

Batu, V. (1998). Aquifer Hydraulics; A Comprehensive Guide to Hydrogeologic Data Analysis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

Bear, J. (1972). Dynamics of Fluids in Porous Media. Published by American Elsevier. New York, NY.

Fetter, C.W. (1994). Applied Hydrogeology; Third Edition.  Published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. , Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

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**NEW** Solinst Peristaltic Pump

The Model 410 Peristaltic Pump is designed for vacuum pumping or pressure delivery of liquids or gases. It is ideal for sample removal from shallow wells and surface water.

The mechanical peristaltic operation is effective to depths of 28 ft. (8.5m) at sea level, being limited only by the suction lift limit.

The Peristaltic Pump has a variable pumping rate and can deliver from 10 ml/min. in sample mode and as much as 3 liters/min. in the purge mode. 

These are only some of the new and improved features of the Solinst Peristaltic Pump.  See the information page for more details.

 

For more info click here:  Solinst Peristaltic Pump

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Technical Note on YSI Level Loggers

YSI Level Scout Level Logger $945

 

RBCA Took Kit v2.0
New Release

Soinst Levelogger $574