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HERO ID
4821832
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Assessment of Groundwater Susceptibility to Non-Point Source Contaminants Using Three-Dimensional Transient Indexes
Author(s)
Zhang, Y; Weissmann, GS; Fogg, GE; Lu, B; Sun, H; Zheng, C
Year
2018
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
ISSN:
1661-7827
EISSN:
1660-4601
Volume
15
Issue
6
Language
English
PMID
29874842
DOI
10.3390/ijerph15061177
Web of Science Id
WOS:000436496900128
Abstract
Groundwater susceptibility to non-point source contamination is typically quantified by stable indexes, while groundwater quality evolution (or deterioration globally) can be a long-term process that may last for decades and exhibit strong temporal variations. This study proposes a three-dimensional (3-d), transient index map built upon physical models to characterize the complete temporal evolution of deep aquifer susceptibility. For illustration purposes, the previous travel time probability density (BTTPD) approach is extended to assess the 3-d deep groundwater susceptibility to non-point source contamination within a sequence stratigraphic framework observed in the Kings River fluvial fan (KRFF) aquifer. The BTTPD, which represents complete age distributions underlying a single groundwater sample in a regional-scale aquifer, is used as a quantitative, transient measure of aquifer susceptibility. The resultant 3-d imaging of susceptibility using the simulated BTTPDs in KRFF reveals the strong influence of regional-scale heterogeneity on susceptibility. The regional-scale incised-valley fill deposits increase the susceptibility of aquifers by enhancing rapid downward solute movement and displaying relatively narrow and young age distributions. In contrast, the regional-scale sequence-boundary paleosols within the open-fan deposits "protect" deep aquifers by slowing downward solute movement and displaying a relatively broad and old age distribution. Further comparison of the simulated susceptibility index maps to known contaminant distributions shows that these maps are generally consistent with the high concentration and quick evolution of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) in groundwater around the incised-valley fill since the 1970s'. This application demonstrates that the BTTPDs can be used as quantitative and transient measures of deep aquifer susceptibility to non-point source contamination.
Keywords
groundwater susceptibility; non-point source; backward travel time probability density
Tags
IRIS
•
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane
Litsearch 2018
Pubmed
WOS
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