Rapid transport from the surface to wells in fractured rock: A unique infiltration tracer experiment

Levison, Jana; Novakowski, Kent

doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2012.01.001

Cited by 29 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Equivalent porous media approaches for non-karstic fractured bedrock springs are also reported in the literature (e.g., Farlin et al, 2013;Swanson et al, 2006;Swanson and Bahr, 2004). In contrast to continuum and multi-continua approaches, discrete fracture network models in sedimentary and crystalline rock aquifer settings can be used to investigate the effects of individual fracture features on groundwater flow incorporating parameters including aperture, spacing, density and length (Voeckler and Allen, 2012;Levison and Novakowski, 2012;Blessent et al, 2011;Gleeson et al, 2009;Berkowitz, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling low-flow bedrock springs providing ecological habitats with climate change scenarios

Levison

Larocque

Ouellet

2014

Journal of Hydrology

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Groundwater discharge areas, including low-flow bedrock aquifer springs, are ecologically important and can be impacted by climate change. The development of and results from a groundwater modeling study simulating fractured bedrock spring flow are presented. This was conducted to produce hydrological data for an ecohydrological study of an endangered species, Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus), in southern Quebec, Canada. The groundwater modeling approach in terms of scale and complexity was strongly driven by the need to produce hydrological data for the related ecohydrological modeling. Flows at four springs at different elevations were simulated for recent past conditions (2006-2010) and for reference (1971-2000) and future (2041-2070) periods using precipitation and temperature data from ten climate scenarios. Statistical analyses of spring flow parameters including activity periods and duration of flow were conducted. Flow rates for the four simulated springs, located at different elevations, are predicted to increase between 2% and 46% and will be active (flowing) 1% to 2% longer in the future. A significant change (predominantly an increase) looking at the seasonality of the number of active days occurs in the winter (2% to 4.9%) and spring seasons (-0.6% to 6.5%). Greatest flow rates were produced from springs at elevations where sub-horizontal fractures intersect the ground surface. These results suggest an intensification of the spring activity at the study site in context of climate change by 2050, which provides a positive habitat outlook for the endangered salamanders residing in the springs for the future.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling low-flow bedrock springs providing ecological habitats with climate change scenarios

Levison

Larocque

Ouellet

2014

Journal of Hydrology

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“…It has already been reported that treated wastewater applied in sensitive fractured bedrock aquifer can reach groundwater on the order of hours (Levison and Novakowski 2012). Significant amounts of organic compounds and microbial load contained in treated wastewater move directly from surface soil to groundwater, resulting in the increase of COD, BOD 5 , TVC and TC concentrations.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They generally survive longer in soils than on crop surfaces, and they are still viable in the soil several months (or even years) after treated animal wastewater spreading or excretion onto land (Nicholson et al 2004). Levison and Novakowski (2012) have shown that contaminants (i.e., inorganic, organic, pathogens) applied in sensitive fractured bedrock aquifer can reach groundwater quickly, on the order of hours. A number of situations might lead to increased rates of treated animal wastewater transfer from surface soil to groundwater, such as (a) changes in the method of treated wastewater application; (b) increased contamination of storm run-off from farm buildings and livestock holding yards; (c) changes in soil conditions that affect either storm run-off, or soil erosion rates; and (d) seasonal variation of water table depth (Withers and Lord 2002).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Contamination Due to Activities of an Intensive Hog Farming Operation Located on a Geologic Fault in East Mediterranean: A Study on COD, BOD5 and Microbial Load

Michalopoulos

Tzamtzis

Liodakis

2015

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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The application of treated animal wastewater produced in intensive fog farming operations (IHFOs) on surface soil, leads to groundwater contamination. In this study, the contamination of a Mediterranean aquifer caused by long-term application of treated wastewater, produced by an IHFO, on a plot with a geologic fault within the IHFO boundaries, was investigated. Groundwater samples were taken from monitoring wells close to the IHFO. A significant increase of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total viable count (TVC) and total coliform (TC) concentrations was found in wells, compared to control monitoring well, which were mainly affected by the subsurface flow of contaminated water, due to the presence of the geologic fault. During the winter, significant increases in concentrations of COD, BOD5, TVC and TC were noted and attributed to increased precipitation, which assisted in the accelerated transport of organic compounds and microbial load, through geologic fault, to groundwater.

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“…Approximately 61% of Lanark County residents are dependent on groundwater, where nearly all wells tap bedrock aquifers (Golder Associates Ltd., 2003). The Tay site has previously been the subject of many studies resulting in a network of 21 bedrock wells and a total of 55 multi-level intervals within the 3400 ha area (Gleeson et al, 2009;Levison and Novakowski, 2012;Miles, 2013;Miles and Novakowski, 2016;Praamsma et al, 2009). The topography of the study area is typically low-lying with surface elevations ranging from 135 to 170 m above sea level (NRCan, 2011).…”

Section: Tay Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater recharge, flow and stable isotope attenuation in sedimentary and crystalline fractured rocks: Spatiotemporal monitoring from multi-level wells

Wright

Novakowski

2019

Journal of Hydrology

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The complexities of fractured rock systems necessitate the use of multi-level monitoring wells for the measurement of isotopic tracers with depth. These methods, however, are rarely employed in groundwater flow studies, particularly involving temporal isotope measurements in multiple rock types. To understand the use of isotopic snowmelt tracers for exploring surface connections and recharge, an investigation was undertaken at three geologically-distinct field sites in south-eastern Ontario, Canada. Results of constant head injection tests at 2-m intervals were used to identify and isolate high transmissivity zones (2-3 in each well) for the construction of eight multi-level wells (22 intervals) for groundwater sampling. Deuterium and oxygen-18 were measured in rain (n=64), snow (n=67), soil water (n=118) and groundwater (n=594) on a bi-weekly to monthly basis over two seasonal snowmelt cycles (> 1.5 years). In combination with stable isotopes, measurements of hydraulic head, groundwater temperature, specific conductance and two rounds of tritium sampling contributed to the development of a conceptual model for snowmelt recharge and flow in sandstone, limestone and crystalline rock. Seasonal variation of ẟ 2 H and ẟ 18 O was observed in all rock types indicating recent recharge and strong surface connections. The dampening and residence time of the snowmelt tracer increased with depth in crystalline rock. Attenuation was highest in higherporosity sedimentary rock and strong confining conditions were observed to inhibit recent recharge.Substantial isotopic attenuation measured in the overburden indicated that the strong snowmelt signal measured in groundwater stems from water infiltrating through areas with thin or no overburden.Identification of the periodic trends and distinct isotopic horizons in this study would not have been possible without the use of multi-level wells.

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Rapid transport from the surface to wells in fractured rock: A unique infiltration tracer experiment

Cited by 29 publications

References 30 publications

Modeling low-flow bedrock springs providing ecological habitats with climate change scenarios

Modeling low-flow bedrock springs providing ecological habitats with climate change scenarios

Groundwater Contamination Due to Activities of an Intensive Hog Farming Operation Located on a Geologic Fault in East Mediterranean: A Study on COD, BOD5 and Microbial Load

Groundwater recharge, flow and stable isotope attenuation in sedimentary and crystalline fractured rocks: Spatiotemporal monitoring from multi-level wells

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