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Dissolved Organic Carbon Mobilisation in a Groundwater System Stressed by Pumping
P W Graham1, A Baker1, M S Andersen1
1Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Scientific Reports
|December 23, 2015
Summary
Intense groundwater abstraction significantly increases dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by up to 3,500%. Physical stress on aquifer materials likely releases bound organic carbon and sloughs biofilms, impacting water quality.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Environmental Science
- Hydrogeology
Background:
- Aquifer organic carbon dynamics are influenced by water flow and processing.
- Groundwater abstraction can alter the concentration and flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of groundwater abstraction on DOC concentration and characteristics in a fractured rock aquifer.
- To identify the sources and changes in fluorescent dissolved organic material (FDOM) during abstraction.
Main Methods:
- Groundwater abstraction from a shallow fractured rock aquifer.
- Measurement of DOC concentrations in observation bores at varying distances.
- Analysis of FDOM using optical fluorescence and absorbance.
Main Results:
- Groundwater abstraction exceeding aquifer yield caused DOC concentrations to increase by up to 3,500%.
- FDOM comprised terrestrial humic and microbial/protein-sourced material.
- Relative molecular weight of FDOM changed differently with distance from the abstraction well.
Conclusions:
- Intense groundwater abstraction mobilizes significant amounts of DOC.
- Physical shear stress from abstraction may cause biofilm sloughing and release of bound organic carbon.
- Abstraction-induced DOC changes impact aquifer water quality and biogeochemical processes.
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