Theme 3-12-Mass transport modelling for assessement of groundwater contamination - Case studies

Abstract

Groundwater contamination due to discharge of domestic sewage and industrial effluents is increasing day by day in different parts of the country. Mass transport modelling is a tool to assess the status of groundwater contamination as well as predict the contaminant migration in groundwater. A groundwater flow model is required to compute the hydraulic heads, which in turn is used to compute the groundwater velocity. The processes of advection and dispersion are accounted in mass transport modelling. Three examples of mass transport modelling have been presented to demonstrate the utility of groundwater flow and mass transport modelling for assessment and management of groundwater contamination. These models will provide quantitative results for groundwater management decisions. The case studies include quantification of contaminant migration in groundwater due to discharge of industrial effluents from Hindusthan Polymers plant in Venkatapuram area near Visakhapatnam, the problem of contamination of drinking water supply well in the Sabarmati river bed near Ahmedabad and contamination of groundwater in Patancheru industrial development area from discharge effluents of chemical and pharmaceutical industries.