Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simulation of nitrate transport and wastewater seepage in groundwater flow system

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Groundwater quantity and quality modeling is one approach for optimal use of available water resources in arid and semiarid regions. This study was conducted to simulate flow treatment and nitrate transport on Shahrekord aquifer using three-dimensional solute transport model and geographical information system. Hydraulic conductivity, specific yield and recharge values in flow simulation process and effect molecular diffusion coefficient, longitudinal dispersivity and distribution coefficient in quality model were calibrated. 120 water samples during July 2007 to June 2008 were collected monthly from 10 wells and measurements of nitrate were carried out. The results show that the developed model is successfully used to simulate flow path and nitrate transport in saturated porous media. The highest values of nitrate occur along Bahram–Abad village and the surroundings. The groundwater quality in the area represents a complex system, which is affected by different factors of pollution, such as urban wastewater and leaching of agricultural lands.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen MS, Baron L, Gudbjerg J, Gregersen J, Chapellier D, Jakobsen R, Postma D (2007) Discharge of nitrate-containing groundwater into a coastal marine environment. J Hydrol 336:98–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anon (2000) Visual MODFLOW V.2.8.2 User’s manual for professional applications in three-dimensional groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling. Waterloo Hydrogeologic Inc, Ontario

  • Bazargan-Lari MR, Kerachian R, Mansoori A (2009) A conflict-resolution model for the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources that considers water-quality issues: a case study. Environ Manage 43:470–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiang WH, Kinzelbach W (2000) 3-D groundwater modeling with PMWIN. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, New York, p 346

    Google Scholar 

  • Conan C, Bouraoui F, Turpin N, Marsily G, Bidoglio G (2003) Modeling flow and nitrate fate at catchment scale in Brittany (France). J Environ Qual 32:2026–2032

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diersch HJG (2005) WASY software FEFLOW, finite element subsurface flow and transport simulation system, user’s manual. Germany, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Don NC, Araki H, Yamanishi H, Koga K (2005) Simulation of groundwater flow and environmental effects resulting from pumping. Environ Geol 47:361–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ducci D (1999) GIS techniques for mapping groundwater contamination risk. Nat Hazards 20:279–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehteshami M, Sharifi A (2007) Evaluating qualitative modling shahre ray aquifer. Tech sci Subsistence Envi 8(4):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Faidi HA, Garcia LA, Albertson MM (2002) Development of a model for simulation of solute transport in a stream–aquifer system. Environ Model Assess 7:191–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fetouani S, Sbaa M, Vanclooster M, Bendra B (2008) Assessing ground water quality in the irrigated plain of Triffa. (North-east Morocco). Agric Water Manag 95(2):133–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gurunadha Rao VVS, Gupta SK (2000) Mass transport modeling to assess contamination of a water supply well in Sabarmati River bed aquifer, Ahmedabad City, India. Environ Geol 39(8):893–900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishida S, Tsuchihara T, Yoshimoto S, Imaizumi M (2011) Sustainable use of groundwater with underground dams. Jpn Agric Res Quart 45(1):51–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lalehzari R (2008) The effect of wastewater recharge on nitrate distribution in Shahrekord aquifer using MT3D model. M.Sc. Thesis. Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, p 130

  • Lalehzari R, Tabatabaei SH, Yarali N (2009) Variation of monthly nitrate contamination of groundwater in Shahrekord aquifer and its mapping using GIS. Iran Water Res J 3(4):9–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Lautz LK, Siegel DI (2006) Modeling surface and groundwater mixing in the hyporheic zone using Modflow and MT3D. Adv Water Resour 29(11):1618–1633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leake SA, Prudic DE (1991) Documentation of a computer program to simulate aquifer-system compaction using the modular finite-difference groundwater flow model. Techniques of Water Resources Investigation, US Geological Survey, Reston

  • McDonald MG, Harbaugh AW (1988) Modflow, a modular three-dimensional finite difference ground-water flow model, U. S. Geological Survey, Open-file report, USA, pp 83–875

  • Obeidat MM, Massadeh AM, Al-Ajlouni AM, Athamneh FS (2007) Analysis and evaluation of nitrate levels in groundwater at Al-Hashimiya area Jordan. Environ Monit Assess 135(1–3):475–486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pacheco J, Cabrera A (1997) Groundwater contamination by nitrates in the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico. Hydrogeol J 5(2):47–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulou MP, Karatzas GP, Bougioukou GG (2007) Numerical model ling of the environmental impact of landfill leachate leakage on groundwater quality—a field application. Environ Model Assess 12:43–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Passarella G, Caputo MC (2006) A methodology for space-time classification of groundwater quality. Environ Monit Assess 115:95–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peeters L, Haerens B, Van der Sluys J, Dassargues A (2004) Modeling seasonal variations in nitrate and sulphate concentrations in a vulnerable alluvial aquifer. Environ Geol 46:951–961

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed MM, Bruen M (2004) Simulation of hydrosalinity behavior under skimming wells. Irrigat Drain Syst 18:167–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selle B, Minasny B, Bethune M, Thayalakumaran T, Chandra S (2011) Applicability of Richards’ equation models to predict deep percolation under surface irrigation. Geoderma 160:569–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabaei SH, Lalehzari R (2009) Determination of the contaminant sources by mapping tools in Shahrekord aquifer Iran. International Groundwater Symposium, Thailand

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabaei SH, Lalehzari R, Nourmahnad N, Khazaei M (2010) Groundwater Quality and Land Use Change (A Case Study: Shahrekord Aquifer, Iran). J Res Agric Sci 6:39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Tariq SR, Shah MH, Shaheen N, Jaffar M, Khalique A (2007) Statistical source identification of metals in groundwater exposed to industrial contamination. Environ Monit Assess 138(1–3):159–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang PP, Zheng C (2005) Contaminant transport models under random sources. Groundwater 43(3):423–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Sho J, Song X, Zhang Y, Huo Z, Zhou X (2008) Application of MODFLOW and geographic information system to groundwater flow simulation in North China Plain. China Environ Geol 55:1449–1462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wingle WL, Poeter EP, McKenna SA (1999) UNCERT: geostatistics, uncertainty analysis and contaminant transport modeling. Comput Geosci 25:365–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2006) Guidelines for drinking-water quality. vol 1. World Health Organization, Geneva, p 515

  • Wriedt G, Rode M (2006) Modeling Nitrate transport and turnover in a lowland catchment system. J Hydrol 328:157–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng C (1990) MT3D, A modular three-dimensional transport model for simulation of advection, dispersion and chemical reactions of contaminants in groundwater systems, Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New York, p 170

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Regional Water Company of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province through the projects numbers 310/86/9414 and CHE-86002.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran

    R. Lalehzari & S. H. Tabatabaei

  2. Department of Irrigation and Reclamation, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

    M. Kholghi

  3. Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Water Science Engineering, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran

    R. Lalehzari

Authors
  1. R. Lalehzari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. H. Tabatabaei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Kholghi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Lalehzari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lalehzari, R., Tabatabaei, S.H. & Kholghi, M. Simulation of nitrate transport and wastewater seepage in groundwater flow system. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 10, 1367–1376 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0213-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0213-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation