Contaminant transport to public water supply wells via flood water retention areas

Abstract

The essential processes and mechanisms of the transport of contaminants from a river to a well field via a flood water retention area are presented. The transport is conceptualized as a succession of three phases: (1) contaminant entry into the retention area, (2) passage through the soil zone and (3) transport with the groundwater flow. Depending on the conditions of a given location and on the properties of the contaminants of interest, processes within each transport phase may reduce the concentration of the contaminants at the well field. For the Kastenwoert-Rappenwoert study area, the results of the described processes are shown by chemical and ecotoxicological analyses as well as by numerical modelling. Based on the results of the analyses, it is predicted that some contaminants in the study area will be completely detained along the transport path, while others will be transported as far as the well field, although in significantly reduced concentrations.