Numerical simulation of groundwater flow and advective transport in an unconfined aquifer : a case study
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Date
1999
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University of New Brunswick
Abstract
For an agricultural groundwater research site in Hoyt, New Brunswick, the
properties of the unconfined aquifer were determined and a numerical model was
created. The project objective was to develop a model of groundwater flow and advective
transport that can be used to simulate the migration of pesticides and herbicides in the
shallow aquifer.
Pneumatic slug tests were conducted to determine the hydraulic conductivity at
19 piezometers located at the project site. Water levels were recorded at 23 these
piezometers over a period of 16 months and the mean water level was calculated for each
location. Using the computer program Flowpath IIĀ®, the field data was plotted and a
finite-difference numerical model was created. The model was calibrated by varying the
hydraulic conductivity coverage at the edges of the model and reiterating this procedure
until the model best matched the actual field data. This model was then used to predict
travel times for solutes in the shallow aquifer below the field site. It was found that
travel times closely matched actual field data.