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Published on: October 21, 2016
Modeling diffusive Cd and Zn contaminant emissions from soils to surface waters
Luc T C Bonten1, Joop G Kroes, Piet Groenendijk
1Soil Science Centre, Alterra, Wageningen-UR, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. luc.bonten@wur.nl
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
|August 7, 2012
Summary
A new model simulates contaminant transport in soil, accounting for changing groundwater levels and lateral drainage. This approach accurately predicts surface water emissions, unlike stationary models which underestimate leaching.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Modeling diffusive contaminant transport in soil is challenging due to variable soil properties and concentration gradients.
- Stationary models fail to capture contaminant transport when groundwater levels fluctuate and interact with contaminated soil layers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel hydrological and geochemical model for simulating contaminant transport in soil.
- To accurately quantify surface water emissions, particularly under fluctuating groundwater conditions.
- To assess the underestimation of surface water leaching by stationary models.
Main Methods:
- Combined a 1D distributed hydrological model with a geochemical model for instationary contaminant transport.
- Incorporated lateral drainage from soil columns to surface waters.
- Applied the model to a cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) contaminated catchment in the Kempen area (1880-2000).
Main Results:
- The model accurately simulated water discharge, surface water concentrations, and current soil Cd and Zn content.
- Demonstrated that stationary modeling approaches significantly underestimate surface water leaching.
- Validated the model's capability in predicting emissions from diffusively contaminated soils.
Conclusions:
- The developed instationary model provides a more accurate representation of contaminant transport and surface water emissions compared to stationary models.
- Fluctuating groundwater tables and lateral drainage are critical factors in assessing soil contaminant fate.
- The model is effective for quantifying historical and current surface water emissions in contaminated areas.
