Modeling diffusive Cd and Zn contaminant emissions from soils to surface waters.

Modeling contaminant transport of diffusive contaminants is generally difficult, as most contaminants are located in the top soil where soil properties will vary strongly with depth and often a strong gradient in contaminant concentrations exists. When groundwater periodically penetrates the contaminated layers, stationary models (like most 3D models) cannot adequately describe contaminant transport. Therefore we have combined a hydrological instationary model using a 1D distributed column approach with a simple geochemical model to describe contaminant transport in the soil. Special to this model is that it includes lateral drainage from the soil column to different types of surface waters, which makes it possible to calculate surface water emissions especially for fluctuating groundwater tables. To test this model approach, we used it to quantify surface water emissions from soils in a catchment in the Kempen area which has been diffusively contaminated with Cd and Zn by zinc smelters. We ran the model for the period 1880-2000, starting with an uncontaminated soil in 1880. The model could describe both water discharge, surface water concentrations and current soil contents of Cd and Zn well. Further the model calculations showed that a stationary approach would underestimate leaching to surface waters considerably.

Climate change impacts on the leaching of a heavy metal contamination in a small lowland catchment.

The Keersop catchment (43km(2)) in the south of The Netherlands has been contaminated by the emissions of four zinc ore smelters. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of future projected climate change on the hydrology and the leaching of heavy metals (i.e. Cd and Zn) in the catchment. The numerical, quasi-2D, unsaturated zone Soil Water Atmosphere Plant model was used with 100-year simulated daily time series of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. The time series are representative of stationary climates for the periods 1961-1990 ("baseline") and 2071-2100 ("future"). The time series of future climate were obtained by downscaling the results of eight regional climate model (RCM) experiments, driven by the SRES A2 emissions scenario, using change factors for a series of climate statistics and applying them to stochastic weather generator models. The time series are characterized by increased precipitation in winter, less precipitation in summer, and higher air temperatures (between 2°C and 5°C) throughout the year. Future climate scenarios project higher evapotranspiration rates, more irrigation, less drainage, lower discharge rates and lower groundwater levels, due to increased evapotranspiration and a slowing down of the groundwater system. As a result, lower concentrations of Cd and Zn in surface water are projected. The reduced leaching of heavy metals, due to drying of the catchment, showed a positive impact on a limited aspect of surface water quality.