Transit time determination for a riverbank filtration system using oxygen isotope data and the lumped-parameter model

Abstract

The mathematical description of the lumped-parameter Dispersion Model is presented, and its use for estimating transit time and proportion of river water in a riverbank filtration system on Szentendre Island (in the Danube River, Hungary) is assessed by applying stable oxygen isotope data. The modelling approach could only be used to analyse single oxygen-isotope peaks observed during a 6-month-long time series, because the mean input (Danube) concentration was very close to the output (well) concentration. The water level in the Danube varied, but the lumped-parameter approach is only applicable for steady-state conditions. Isotope data observed during quasi steady-state hydraulic conditions selected at medium and higher water levels were modelled. At low water levels the method could not be used because the 18 O content of the Danube water and of collector wells was similar.

Identification of groundwater mean transit times of precipitation and riverbank infiltration by two‐component lumped parameter models

“…Compared with the gamma model, the EPF and AD models provide better performances (Figure ). The results agree well with the dominance of these TTDs in riverbank infiltration studies (e.g., Kármán et al, ; Maloszewski et al, ; Stichler et al, ; Stichler et al, ) and/or in groundwater studies (e.g., Cartwright & Morgenstern, ; Stewart et al, ), whereas the gamma model has been frequently used in catchment studies (cf. K. J. McGuire & McDonnell, ; Hrachowitz et al, ).…”

“…We tested six TTDs commonly applied in hydrologic systems: the exponential, linear, exponential‐piston flow (EPF), linear‐piston flow (LPF), advection–dispersion (AD, Maloszewski & Zuber, ; Cook & Böhlke, ), and the gamma model (Kirchner, Feng, & Neal, ). Although the EPF and AD models have been used in riverbank infiltration studies (e.g., Kármán, Maloszewski, Deák, Fórizs, & Szabó, ; Maloszewski, Rauert, Trimborn, Herrmann, & Rau, ; Stichler et al, ; Stichler et al, ) and in groundwater studies (e.g., Cartwright & Morgenstern, ; M. K. Stewart, Morgenstern, Gusyev, & Małoszewski, ), the exponential and gamma models have been widely applied for catchment mTT modelling (cf. K. J. McGuire & McDonnell, ; Hrachowitz et al, ).…”

Multi Frequency Isotopes Survey to Improve Transit Time Estimation in a Situation of River-Aquifer Interaction

“…In particular, the stable isotopes of the water molecule ( 2 H, 18 O) have many applications, allowing a better understanding of hydrosystems. They are used to estimate the recharge, to know the origin of water, the mixing processes and the transit times [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The use of this tracer is particularly relevant in the context of short transit times within the aquifer, as is the case for exchanges between alluvial aquifers and rivers.…”

“…The use of this tracer is particularly relevant in the context of short transit times within the aquifer, as is the case for exchanges between alluvial aquifers and rivers. However, it is necessary to have a marked isotopic signature for the input signal to the system and a different signature between the input and output signal [11].…”

Groundwater flow path determination during riverbank filtration affected by groundwater exploitation: a case study of Liao River, Northeast China

“…A variety of methods have been used to determine the groundwater flow path during riverbank filtration, including hydraulic tests, environmental tracers, and groundwater flow numerical simulation models (Shand et al 2007, Soulsby et al 2011, Koh et al 2012, Partington et al 2013, Kármán et al 2014. Hydraulic tests can provide high-precision hydrogeological information.…”