Water Quality Modeling for Groundwater, Surface Water, and Watersheds: Basic Theory and Applications

Assessing and Modeling Irrigation-Induced Selenium in the Stream-Aquifer System of the Lower Arkansas River Valley, Colorado

Water Quality Modeling for Groundwater, Surface Water, and Watersheds:Basic Theory and ApplicationsRyan BaileyDept. of Civil and Environmental EngineeringColorado State [email protected]

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Personal Background

2003-2006

GroundwaterModeling System

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2006-2008

Assessment of Groundwater Quantity on Atoll Islands in the Federated States of MicronesiaPersonal Background

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2008-2012

Selenium & Nitrogen Fate and Transport in Agricultural Groundwater SystemsPersonal Background

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Research Projects

Selenium in Groundwater SystemsSalinity in Groundwater SystemsSmall Island Water Resources AssessmentGroundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer RegionNutrient transport in subsurface tile drainsGroundwater-surface water interactionsCoupled land surface / groundwater modeling

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OutlineImportance of Water Quality (Case Study)Basics of Water Quality Modeling (Transport)Projects using Water Quality Modeling6

Basics of Water Quality

Hydrologic Cycle

Groundwater ContaminationCase Studies Woburn, Massachusetts

Groundwater ContaminationCase Studies Woburn, MassachusettsTCE(tetrachloroethylene)Solvent for organic materials (used for dry cleaning, degreasing automotive parts, paint strippers)First synthesized in 1821 (Michael Faraday)Group 2A carcinogen (likely to cause cancer)Central nervous system depressantDissolves fats from skin (skin irritation)Banned from use in new dry-cleaning machines in 2007EPA drinking water: < 5 ppb (g/L)

C2Cl4

Tanneries, Dry Cleaning, Textile Mills, Paper Industries, Chemical Companieshttp://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/PH/Woburn/Woburn_print.htmlGroundwater ContaminationCase Studies Woburn, Massachusetts

Incidents of LeukemiaWhere did the TCE originate from? Who is at fault?Groundwater ContaminationCase Studies Woburn, Massachusetts


1964-1967

http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/PH/Woburn/Woburn_print.html

Dump chemicals (TCE)Trichloroethylene

Until 1960sDry CleaningTannery

Complaints about the water in east Woburn began after Well G began pumping water in November of 1964Complaints forced pumping to stop in October 1969, but they were reopened whenever the demand for water increased during the summer or when there was drought. Whenever Wells G and H began pumping, there were complaints about the "putrid, ill-smelling, and foul water."Groundwater ContaminationCase Studies Woburn, Massachusetts

How to pinpoint origin of contamination at Wells?

Water Quality Effects

Water Quality EffectsChemicals

Toxin and Carcinogen Skin disorders, keratosis, cardiovascular, respiratoryMobilized by weathering reactions, biological activity, volcanic emissions, mining, use of arsenical pesticidesGroundwater: increased contact between water and rocks (high vulnerability)Large scale contamination in Bangladesh

Water Quality EffectsChemicals

Toxin and Carcinogen Skin disorders, keratosis, cardiovascular, respiratoryMobilized by weathering reactions, biological activity, volcanic emissions, mining, use of arsenical pesticidesGroundwater: increased contact between water and rocks (high vulnerability)Large scale contamination in Bangladesh


Impacts from long-term consumption:< 0.5 mg/LTooth Decay0.5 1.5 mg/LDental Health1.5 4 mg/LDental Fluorosis> 4 mg/LDental and Skeletal Fluorosis> 10 mg/LCrippling Skeletal Fluorosis

Dental Fluorosis

Chemicals


Impacts from long-term consumption:< 0.5 mg/LTooth Decay0.5 1.5 mg/LDental Health1.5 4 mg/LDental Fluorosis> 4 mg/LDental and Skeletal Fluorosis> 10 mg/LCrippling Skeletal Fluorosis

Chemicals

Water ContaminationSources of ContaminantsSeptic tanks and cesspoolsLand application (agriculture)LandfillsOpen dumpsResidential disposalMine wastes / Mine drainageRadioactive-waste disposal sitesPipelinesPesticideManureUrban RunoffAtmospheric pollutantsSaltwater Intrusion

Water Quality Transport

Superfund sites

Hazardous waste sitesGroundwater ContaminationMajor Contamination Sites

OutlineImportance of Water Quality (Case Study)Basics of Water Quality Modeling (Transport)Project using Water Quality Modeling22

Water Quality EffectsModeling Transport in Rivers and Aquifers

OConnor et al. (2010)


OConnor et al. (2010)AdvectionDispersionChemical Reactions






OConnor et al. (2010)AdvectionDispersionChemical ReactionsSorptionRedox reactions



Conservation of MassPartial Differential EquationNumerical Methods (model)



Groundwater Flow


Groundwater Flow


Contaminant Transport



Water Quality EffectsModels for Groundwater/River Transport

RT3D(Reactive Transport in 3 Dimensions)


SEAWATIslandsCoasts


OTIS-QUAL2E(One Dimensional TransportInflow and Storage)Nitrogen cycling in stream

OutlineImportance of Water Quality (Case Study)Basics of Water Quality Modeling (Transport)Project using Water Quality Modeling38


Salinity

Salinity

Groundwater QualitySelenium & Nitrogen

Salinity

Groundwater QualitySelenium & Nitrogen

SeleniumContaminationSelenium (Se): the double-edged sword element< 40 g/day: Muscular dystrophy; Liver, muscle, heart disease, Cardiovascular cancer> 400 g/day: Nervous system, growth retardation, deformitiesParticularly harmful to aquatic life (waterfowl and fish)

SeleniumContamination1980s: Kesterson Reservoir- High Se drainage water - Deformation of water fowl (bioaccumulation)

Kesterson Reservoir, CA

1990s and 2000s- Reports from sites worldwide- Se contamination in groundwater and surface water.- Deformation of water fowl, fish- Also: deficiency (Finland, China)

SeleniumContamination

1980s and 1990s: National Irrigation Water Quality Program

Shale Bedrock + Irrigation = Se ProblemArkansas River Valley, CO(high flow + O2,NO3)

SeleniumContamination

Bureau of Reclamation (Gunnison Basin, CO)www.usbr.gov/uc/wcau/progact/smp/overview.html

NO3,O2

FeSe2Se

SeleniumModeling in Arkansas River Valley



Fort LyonHolbrookHighlineCatlinRF DitchOtero6 Irrigation CanalsHighlineOteroCatlinRocky Ford DitchHolbrookFort Lyon

Pumping Wells

Depth to Bedrock (~15 m)Surface Shale


Fertilizer Loading (N)NO3 leaching, interaction with shaleRelease of Selenium into groundwater

Pueblo ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir

Upstream Study Region

Downstream Study Region

Se (g/L)Se (g/L)50 (EPA Ag. Std)

Pueblo ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir


Downstream Study RegionSe (g/L)Se (g/L)4.64.6

Pueblo Reservoir


Construct Groundwater Flow ModelConstruct Contaminant Transport Model RT3D (Aquifer, River)Identify strategies to mitigate Se contamination

Infiltration (irrigation, rainfall)Evapotranspiration (crops)Canal seepageRiver-aquifer interactionPumpingAquifer ParametersMODFLOWHydraulic Head



Crop type for each irrigated fieldDistribution of ShalePlant, Harvest, Plowing daysFertilizer (time and amount) (N)Root zone hydrologyNitrogen cyclingOxidation of Selenium from shaleRT3DOTISConcentration of NO3 and Se in Aquifer and River




Cells adjacent to shale

Cells underlying fields




O2

mg/L


NO3mg/L


SeO4g/L

SeleniumModeling in Arkansas River ValleySealing Irrigation Canals (20%-60% seepage reduction)Decrease volume of applied irrigation water (10-30%)Land Fallowing (lease fallowing) (5-25%)Decrease Fertilizer Loading (10-30%)Enhance Riparian Buffer Zones (enhanced chemical activity)


Sealing Irrigation CanalsDecrease volume of applied irrigation waterLand Fallowing (lease fallowing)Decrease Fertilizer LoadingEnhance Riparian Buffer Zones (enhanced chemical activity)10%15%15%10%15%50%Combos:


Travel time to reach surface water

Selenium & Nitrogen

Salinity

Groundwater Quality

Overwash from Tsunami Event

December 26, 2004~ 230,000 deaths

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Sumatra, Indonesia

Sri Lanka

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December 26, 2004~ 230,000 deathsWave height in Maldives: 1.3 to 3.3 m

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Laamu Atoll

Maldives

1 km2Overwash from Tsunami EventSmall Coral Islands

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Fresh GroundwaterSeawaterOverwash from Tsunami EventSmall Coral Islands

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Fresh GroundwaterSeawaterOverwash from Tsunami EventSmall Coral Islands

How much contamination occurs?When can groundwater be used again?

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Overwash from Tsunami EventSmall Coral Islands

1. Impose overwash2. Rainfall on island3. Track salinitySEAWAT

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Overwash from Tsunami EventSmall Coral Islands

1 day4 months15 months2 years

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Groundwater ContaminationCase Studies Woburn, MassachusettsWhere did the TCE originate from? Who is at fault?

MODFLOW model+MT3DMS model (TCE, PCE)

(1960-1986)Maura Metheny, 2004(Ohio State University






Groundwater ContaminationCase Studies Woburn, Massachusettshttp://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/PH/Woburn/Woburn_print.html

Concluding RemarksWater quality a concern in many parts of the worldsWater-borne diseases still occur in many regionsNumerical models can be used to track contaminants in the environment (groundwater and surface water)Models can be used to explore effect of management practices on contamination and remediationModels can be used to determine historical patterns of contaminant transport

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Soho (London, England)

1854 500 deaths in 10 daysDue to Cholera


QuestionsWhy did it affect the Soho neighborhood so strongly?How can you prevent the spread of the disease?


Dr. John Snow1838: Admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandOne of the first physicians to use anesthesia (ether, chloroform) for surgey1853: personally administered chloroform to Queen Victoria during birthSkeptic of miasma theory (cholera spread by bad air)1854: investigated cholera outbreak in SohoSoho (London, England)

How to prove?Woman several km from neighborhood diedMen in brewery did not dieFamilies with deaths in other neighborhoods always sent their children to fetch water from the Broad Street pumpTheory

Groundwater at Soho

Vibrio cholerae

Groundwater at Soho

Groundwater at Soho

Sand / Gravel (sweet water)Broad Street PumpDiaper / Rags from sick Infant

Groundwater at SohoStart of 20th century: Add chlorine to water supplies (kill bacteria)

Cholera Outbreaks7th Cholera Pandemic (1961-1971)

Cholera OutbreaksCongo (Rwanda crisis)199423,800 deaths2001: 41 outbreaks in 28 countriesLatin America1991400,000 cases4,000 deaths

Cholera Outbreaks

Water Quality Modeling for Groundwater, Surface Water, and Watersheds: Basic Theory and Applications

Education

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