Keywords :
surface water – groundwater interaction; aquifer heterogeneity; hydrogeochemistry; organic contaminants; metal trace elements; aquifer remediation; interaction eau de surface - eau souterraine; hétérogénéité; hydrogéochimie; contaminants organiques; éléments traces métalliques; dépollution de l'eau souterraine
Abstract :
[en] The spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of a benzene plume in an alluvial aquifer strongly affected by river fluctuations was studied. Benzene concentrations, aquifer geochemistry datasets, past river morphology and benzene degradation rates estimated in situ using stable carbon isotope enrichment were analysed in concert with aquifer heterogeneity and river fluctuations. Geochemistry data demonstrated that benzene biodegradation was on-going under sulphate reducing conditions. Long-term monitoring of hydraulic heads and characterisation of the alluvial aquifer formed the basis of a detailed modelled image of aquifer heterogeneity. Hydraulic conductivity was found to strongly correlate with benzene degradation, indicating that low hydraulic conductivity areas are capable of sustaining benzene anaerobic biodegradation provided the electron acceptor (SO42-) does not become rate limiting. Modelling results demonstrated that the groundwater flux direction is reversed on annual basis when the river level rises up to two meters, thereby forcing the infiltration of oxygenated surface water into the aquifer. The mobilisation state of metal trace elements such as Zn, Cd and As present in the aquifer predominantly depended on the strong potential gradient within the plume. However, infiltration of oxygenated water was found to trigger a change from strongly reducing to oxic conditions near the river, causing mobilisation of previously immobile metal species and vice versa. Monitored natural attenuation appears to be an appropriate remediation strategy in this type of dynamic environment provided that aquifer characterisation and targeted monitoring of redox conditions is adequate and electron acceptors remain available until concentrations of toxic compounds reduce to acceptable levels.
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