Assessing the persistence of a contaminant plume generated by linear aquifer source depletion and back diffusion from an aquitard.

ABSTRACT

This study presents analytical solutions for describing contaminant storage and release from an aquitard with linear source depletion (LSD) boundary conditions. We investigated three scenarios for trichloroethylene (TCE) mass exchange before and after the LSD period in an aquifer bounded by an adjacent aquitard based on the LSD dynamics, a resistance coefficient, and the aquitard thickness. The developed analytical solutions showed good agreement with measured profiles and breakthrough curves from a previous study. In three scenarios, the factors delaying the onset of TCE release into the aquifer were a decrease in the resistance coefficient, an increase in LSD period and aquitard thickness. The changes in the duration, mass, and rate of TCE storage in the aquitard during LSD loading process affected the equilibrium of the aquifer-aquitard concentration gradient. After TCE loading, the period maintained above the maximum contaminant level was directly related to the three variables; the longest plume persistence occurred when TCE penetration distance at transition point from storage to release coincided with the aquitard thickness. Overall, the developed analytical solution aids in evaluating the risk of plume persistence, enhancing site management efficiency, and reducing remediation costs.