An integrated contaminant source and groundwater catchment model for assessemt of sustainable landuse and groundwater utilization
Abstract
The pesticide metabolite BAM (2,6-dichlorbenzamide) was used as a worst-case solute in order to assess the cause-effect relationship between contaminant source type/strength and response in the groundwater for other contaminant types BAM is the most frequently found pesticide contaminant in Danish groundwater. In 1999 BAM was found in 26% of Danish water supply wells and the drinking water standard (0.1 μg/L) was exceeded in 11% of the wells. BAM is a metabolite from the active ingredient dichlobenil (DCB), which was used for non-agricultural total weed protection during 1966 - 1997. By using the numerical codes FRAC3Dvs and MODFLOW/MT3D it is the aim of the study to evaluate the extent and durability of the BAM pollution in the Jægerspris/Landerslev groundwater catchment and to recommend planning strategies to avoid or minimize BAM in future water supply. The model combines all type of area-distributed data ranging from land use, estimated contaminant source strength, water balance, geology, hydro-chemistry in a dynamic prediction of the water quality in water extraction wells and in the groundwater. The model is considered as a tool for objective processing and integration of multiple-type of data collected from field mapping and laboratory works in consistent and reproducible predictive modeling. Combining these data of the pesticides with area-distributed data for the water balance, aquifer type and overriding fractured clay aquitards, the modeling indicates that the BAM pollution will appear in the groundwater with a high frequency in the following 20 years to more than 100 years. The modeling show that the extent and future evolution of the BAM pollution is a strong function of local geological and hydrological conditions, which in some cases can be utilized for minimizing problems for the water supply through planning and management. The model is a valuable tool for test-runs and evaluation of elaborate remediation plans and other types of groundwater protective work. From such test-runs planning can be optimized so the efforts that will be carried out will be adequate and no money will be spend without being relevant to achieve the success criterion, which is to supply enough good quality groundwater for drinking water purpose. Eventually the modeling provides documentation for the needs and investments to the population and politicians in order to justify the great investments into contaminated site remediation and general protection of groundwater.
- Publication:
-
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003EAEJA....14092J