Predicting the Impact and Duration of Persistent and Mobile Organic Compounds in Groundwater Systems Using a Contaminant Mass Discharge Approach
This study investigated methods for predicting the duration of impact of persistent and mobile organic compounds (PMOCs) at a drinking water well field affected by multiple contaminant sources. The fungicide metabolite, N,N-dimethylsulfamide (DMS), which is frequently found above the Danish drinking water limit value of 0.1 µg/L, was used as an example. By combining contaminant mass discharge (CMD) estimations, modeling, and groundwater dating, a number of important discoveries were made. The current center of contaminant mass was located near the downgradient end of the source area. The CMD at the well field was predicted to peak in 2040, and an effect from the investigated sources could be expected until the end of the 21st century. A discrepancy in the current CMD at the well field and the estimated arrival time from the studied source area suggested an additional pesticide source, which has not been fully investigated yet. The presence of the unknown source was supported by model simulations showing an improved mass balance after inclusion of a contaminant source closer to the well field.The applied approach was capable of predicting the duration and impact of DMS contamination at a well field at catchment scale, and furthermore shows potential for identification and quantification of the contribution from individual sources. It is applicable for other PMOCs. Predicting the duration of the release and effect of contaminant sources on abstraction wells is highly valuable for water resources management and authorities responsible for contaminant risk assessment, remediation, and long-term planning at water utilities
Year of publication: |
[2023]
|
---|---|
Authors: | Frederiksen, Majken ; Mosthaf, Klaus ; Bøllingtoft, Anton Bo ; Albers, Christian Nyrop ; Christensen, Britt Stenhøj Baun ; Christophersen, Mette ; Tuxen, Nina ; Tüchsen, Peter ; Clausen, Liselotte ; Janniche, Gry Anja Sander ; Bjerg, Poul Løgstrup |
Publisher: |
[S.l.] : SSRN |
Saved in:
freely available
Saved in favorites
Similar items by subject
-
Find similar items by using search terms and synonyms from our Thesaurus for Economics (STW).