Groundwater contamination CE 473/573 Groundwater
Sources of contamination 1. Natural processes Leaching of natural deposits Evapotranspiration 2. Runoff from agricultural & urban watersheds 3. Waste disposal practices 4. Accidental spills and leaks
Transport processes (§10.6) 1. Diffusion 2. Advection 3. Dispersion 4. Retardation 5. Degradation
Diffusion Transport by molecular action from high to low concentration
Advection Transport caused by the flow carrying the contaminant t = 0
Dispersion Transport due to spreading via several mechanisms
Other processes Retardation: chemical and physical processes that cause slower transport Degradation: decay or loss of contaminant