H51F-1442
Impact of Aquifer Heterogeneities on Autotrophic Denitrification.
Friday, 18 December 2015
Poster Hall (Moscone South)
Alexander McCarthy1, Clément Roques2, John S Selker1, Jonathan D Istok3 and Julie C Pett-Ridge4, (1)Oregon State University, Biological and Ecological Engineering, Corvallis, OR, United States, (2)University of Rennes, Rennes Cedex, France, (3)Oregon State University, Civil and Construction Engineering, Corvallis, OR, United States, (4)Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
Abstract:
Nitrate contamination in groundwater is a big challenge that will need to be addressed by hydrogeologists throughout the world. With a drinking water standard of 10mg/L of NO3-, innovative techniques will need to be pursued to ensure a decrease in drinking water nitrate concentration. At the pumping site scale, the influence and relationship between heterogeneous flow, mixing, and reactivity is not well understood. The purpose of this project is to incorporate both physical and chemical modeling techniques to better understand the effect of aquifer heterogeneities on autotrophic denitrification. We will investigate the link between heterogeneous hydraulic properties, transport, and the rate of autotrophic denitrification. Data collected in previous studies in laboratory experiments and pumping site scale experiments will be used to validate the models. The ultimate objective of this project is to develop a model in which such coupled processes are better understood resulting in best management practices of groundwater.
