Groundwater Quality

• Understand the principles of groundwater flow, solute transport and water abstraction
• Analyze groundwater quality problems and relation to drinking water quality criteria
• Evaluate the impact of contamination on groundwater resources
• Understand the processes that determine groundwater quality, as well as the mechanisms of release and transport of groundwater contaminants
• Describe chemical and microbiological processes, identify effects of geogenic processes and anthropogenic impacts on groundwater systems and quality
• Examine practical groundwater quality problems, and identify and apply the theory relevant to solving them
• Incorporate process understanding and observations (data) of groundwater systems into conceptual models and employ them to assist in understanding and solving groundwater quality problems
• Apply calculation tools for quantitatively describing geochemical and biogeochemical processes
• Review and disseminate scientific publications about a specific groundwater quality challenge and disseminate the knowledge in a short paper and an oral presentation

Topics will include: introduction to groundwater flow, reactive transport in porous media, and water abstraction. Description of biogeochemical processes including concepts of equilibrium, sorption and ion exchange, carbonate system, redox processes, major problems of groundwater contamination by diffuse pollution sources (e.g., nitrate, pesticides, PFAS and arsenic contamination), as well as application of insight into flow, transport and reactive processes to solve practical problems related to management of quality and quantity of groundwater.

12102/12320, Skills in hydrology, hydrogeology an environmental processes are recommended.

The course employs a mix of lectures, tutorials, computer modelling, written assignments and an oral presentation. Assignment work is conducted in groups.