Poluição e Protecção de Águas Subterrâneas

Objectives

The objective is to acquire competence in order to: a) Evaluate the degree of the aquifer vulnerability and the risk of pollution b) Determine the groundwater hydrochemical fácies, distinguishing geogenic factors from the anthropogenic ones c) Predict the transport of the pollutants in aquifers, including satwater/fresh water interfaces motion in coastal and island aquifers, using analytical and/ or numerical techniques d) Delineate wellhead proteccion perimeters and other zones od aquifer protection using analytical and numerical simulation. e) Propose remediation strategies and implement groundwater quality monitoring networks f) To know the status od groundwater quality and the main threats occuring in the aquifer systems of Portugal.

Syllabus

1.Hydrochemical facies. Graphical representations of Stiff and Piper. Water- rock interaction. Hydrogeochemical reactions (PHREEQC software) 2. Types and sources of pollution. Diffuse pollution by nitrates. Pollutant transport in the saturated zone of the aquifer. Advection, molecular diffusion and hydrodynamic dispersion. Laws governing their propagation. Concept of dispersivity and its relation to heterogeneity. Adsorption and absorption. Linear isotherms, Langmuir and Freundlich. Retardation factor and decay. 3. The phenomenon of saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers and islands. Analytical solutions Ghyben-Herzberg, Glover and Fetter. 4. Vulnerability of aquifers and pollution risk. Methods for assessment of intrinsic and specific vulnerability. . Delineation of wellhead protection perimeters by analytical and numerical techniques. 7. Introduction to numerical modeling of pollutant transport in porous media (PMWIN software).

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of geology.

Cross Competence Component

Development of critical thinking and problem solving, team work, oral and writing communication. (10%)

Laboratorial Component

Work at the Darcy Flow Experimental Unit, Monitoring of water tables, temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, NO3, Cl, potential redox in the field

Programming And Computing Component

Analytical modeling using specific software and numerical modeling using PMWIN

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group's work. In any assessment, every students shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every students shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.