Publication Date:
2008
abstract:
This study investigates the fate and transport of pathogens introduced by artificial
groundwater recharge at the Nardo` fractured aquifer in the Salento area, Italy. Wastewater
effluents from a municipal treatment plant with known pathogen concentrations were
injected into a sinkhole and the migration of pathogens in the fractured aquifer was
monitored at six sampling wells. The fate of pathogens was quantified by a mathematical
model describing colloid transport in a set of three-dimensional, parallel fractures with
spatially variable aperture. The number of parallel fractures and their average fracture
aperture were determined from appropriate field pumping and tracer tests. The aperture
spatial distribution was described by an experimental semivariogram developed from
available field data obtained from two tracer tests and 34 pumping tests. The experimental
results suggest that for the municipal wastewater injected into the Nardo` aquifer the
required most conservative set back distance for drinking wells should be over 8000 m.
groundwater recharge at the Nardo` fractured aquifer in the Salento area, Italy. Wastewater
effluents from a municipal treatment plant with known pathogen concentrations were
injected into a sinkhole and the migration of pathogens in the fractured aquifer was
monitored at six sampling wells. The fate of pathogens was quantified by a mathematical
model describing colloid transport in a set of three-dimensional, parallel fractures with
spatially variable aperture. The number of parallel fractures and their average fracture
aperture were determined from appropriate field pumping and tracer tests. The aperture
spatial distribution was described by an experimental semivariogram developed from
available field data obtained from two tracer tests and 34 pumping tests. The experimental
results suggest that for the municipal wastewater injected into the Nardo` aquifer the
required most conservative set back distance for drinking wells should be over 8000 m.
Iris type:
01.01 Articolo in rivista
Keywords:
Pathogen transport; Virus inactivation; Fractured media; Mathematical modeling
List of contributors:
LA MANTIA, Rosanna; Masciopinto, Costantino
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