Impact of Protective Barriers on Groundwater Quality

Author(s):  
Małgorzata E. Wysocka ◽  
Katarzyna Zabielska-Adamska

The storage yard’s leak-proof protection should be achieved by means of independent protective barriers in the form of geological barriers, artificial sealing layers, mineral soil liners and covers, as well as sidewall sealing. Some years ago, construction and exploitation of landfill sites in Poland took place without any guidelines and legal regulations. Landfills, especially situated in rural areas, were quite often constructed directly on the grounds, e.g. in former aggregate excavations, without any protection. Examples of the municipal landfills, located in the sites of adverse geological conditions were presented in this paper. The effect of existence or absence of geological barriers on the groundwater quality was carried out. In tested landfills, higher concentrations of groundwater pollution indicators were found in landfill monitoring wells located on the outlet of these waters, in comparison to the landfill monitoring wells located on their supply. In the case of the landfills situated directly on the soils of high hydraulic conductivity, the indicators of negative influence of deposited landfills increased even after the closing of the landfill sites. Subsurface water-bearing layer is a kind of “indicator” giving information about the harmful effect of landfills on the environment, and the need to take remedial actions.

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 01034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingjun Liu ◽  
Changlai Xiao ◽  
Xiujuan Liang

In this study, a hydrochemical investigation was conducted in Shuangliao city to identify the hydrochemical characteristics and the quality of groundwater using descriptive statistics and correlation matrices. And on that basis, combined with Analytic hierarchy process (AHP), an improved two-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to evaluate the groundwater quality. The results indicate that the major cations and anions in groundwater are Ca2+ and HCO3-, respectively. The chemical types are mainly HCO3—Ca type water, some areas are complicated due to the influence of human activities. The evaluation results show that the water quality in the area is mostly III type water, and the groundwater quality in some areas is IV or V water due to the influence of primary geological conditions or human activities. The groundwater quality in the East Liaohe River Valley and Shuangliao urban area is relatively poor, and in the northwest part which is the saline alkali soil area is also relatively poor.


Author(s):  
S. U. Nwibo ◽  
T. O. Okonkwo ◽  
A. V. Eze ◽  
B. N. Mbam ◽  
N. E. Odoh

The paucity of empirical evidence to show the correlation between microcredit and poverty reduction in North-East, Nigeria led to the study on the effect of microcredit on poverty reduction among rural farm households. Multi-stage random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select 200 farm households who constituted the sample size. Data were collected primarily using structured questionnaire and analysed with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed informal microcredit as the major source of credit for farm households. The result further indicated that 46% of the loan applied for was disbursed, resulting to 47% rise in farm household’s income. Meanwhile, 62% of farm households surveyed were poor with poverty depth of 0.43 and poverty severity at 0.38. The regression analysis on the effect of microcredit on the income of the farm households revealed that the coefficient of income was positive and statistically significant at 1% probability. The effect of microcredit on the poverty profile of farm households revealed that microcredit exerts negative influence on poverty profile of farm households in the study area. The study recommends: the establishment of robust rural credit scheme in rural areas; and institution of policy framework that will enable poor rural households without appropriate collateral to access funds for farm and non-farm activities.


2013 ◽  
Vol 732-733 ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Yin Feng

Enhanced Geothermal Systems represent a series of technology, which use engineering methods to improve the performance of geothermal power plant. In some geothermal fields, the rocks are in high temperature but a low permeability, or the subsurface water is scarce. In these geological conditions, cool water was injected into the geothermal wells to fracture the tight rock and create man-made reservoir for thermal exploitation. Furthermore, these engineering methods can be utilized to improve the productivity of pre-existing hydrothermal power plants. To save water and treat the global warming, using carbon dioxide instead of water as working fluid was proposed. Numerical simulation reveals that the carbon dioxide has numerous advantages over water as working fluid in the heat mining process. The precipitation caused by carbon dioxide will restore part of carbon dioxide in the rock and reduce the micro-seismicity risk.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-260
Author(s):  
Bryan L. Woodbury ◽  
Roger A. Eigenberg ◽  
H. Gordon Minns ◽  
Pius M. Ndegwa

Mineral and organic salts from beef manure in runoff alter the resistivity properties of soil and water. Typically, holding ponds are used to control runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations. The integrity of these holding ponds has come under increased scrutiny since subsurface leakage has the potential to affect soil and groundwater quality. Traditionally, leaks from holding ponds are detected by installing a series of monitoring wells at strategic locations near the pond to intercept any contaminants that reach groundwater. Monitoring wells are expensive to install, costly to sample, generate information that is difficult to interpret and can only warn of a leak after contamination of groundwater has already occurred. A method was developed to continually measure the soil quality around the perimeter of holding ponds. When a change is detected, a message can be sent to facility managers to alert them of potential problems. However, the analysis of the data generated by this new method can be difficult to interpret. A protocol was developed that has 1) a site-calibration method to tailor analysis for most geologic and geographic settings, 2) establishes statistical-based thresholds for detecting changes in soil and groundwater quality, 3) allows for detection sensitivity to be scaled, 4) provides a filter for reducing false-positive leak detections and 5) provides a consistent framework for regulatory reporting. The protocol is designed to be incorporated into automated software that can immediately notify pond managers of potential problems using currently available telecommunication technology.


Author(s):  
Milica Igić ◽  
Mihailo Mitković ◽  
Petar Mitković ◽  
Milena Dinić-Branković ◽  
Jelena Đekić ◽  
...  

Rural areas in Serbia occupy about 3/4 of total country territory and they are home for almost half of total population. These areas are characterized by very heterogeneous environment with not expressed anthropogenic negative influence. Because of a few types of the settlements and very rich rural and natural landscapes, there are great opportunities for development of diverse economies, multifunctional use, and a variety of different activities. This chapter discusses rural tourism development in the Region of the Southern and Eastern Serbia and its impact on the urban-rural synergy. The main goal is to investigate the impact of the tourism development on the connections on the relation urban to rural on the example of this region, and to point out importance of this synergy for future balanced rural and regional development. Rural tourism represents drive for urban-rural synergy and it is one of the key factors of rural development.


1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Netter

Three planted soil filters for wastewater treatment (constructed wetlands with subsurface water flow) were investigated over an extended period of time. Each of them was filled with different kinds of soil. The filters were planted with helophytes, and loaded with septic tank effluent, with pre-treated combined sewage respectively. The hydraulic surface loading varied from 4 to 60mm/d and the specific BOD5 mass loading from 0.9 to 8.7g per square metre per day. The purification efficiency varied between 61 and 99% with respect to BOD5 and COD. The elimination of nutrients (Ntot and Ptot) varied between 5 and almost 100%. The removal rate of the total bacterial count, conforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci was significant.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2792
Author(s):  
Yunxu Chai ◽  
Changlai Xiao ◽  
Mingqian Li ◽  
Xiujuan Liang

Hydrogeochemical research and water quality evaluation are an important part of groundwater development and management projects in Dehui City, Jilin Province, China. We collected 217 groundwater samples in the study area and used two multivariate statistical methods, hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis to classify groundwater; combined graphical method, piper diagram, and Gibbs diagram to characterize groundwater chemical types and distinguish the water chemical control mechanism; and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to evaluate groundwater quality. Three major categories have been identified. Most of the groundwater in the study area is Ca-HCO3 type water. The water chemistry control mechanism is determined to be based on water-rock interaction and less evaporation. From east to west in the study area, the total dissolved solids (TDS) gradually increased, and water quality gradually deteriorated. In the whole region, 79.26% of the groundwater is suitable for drinking. With Yinma River at the boundary, the water quality in the eastern part is excellent, while that in the southwest is poor. After appropriate treatment, it can be used in industry and agriculture. The excess NO3− is mainly affected by human activities. The unique geological conditions of the Songnen Plain result in an excess amount of Fe3+ and Mn2+ in some areas. This study determined the chemical characteristics of groundwater in the study area and distinguished water quality levels. The results will be helpful for the development and management of groundwater resources.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Steven Michael Ross ◽  
Lynne Duffy ◽  
Leslie Jeffrey ◽  
Donna Bulman ◽  
Marni Amirault

<p>A three-year, community-based descriptive study examined how meaningful involvement in AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) is conceptualized and experienced in three Canadian Maritime provinces that are considered rural areas. This paper focuses on one aspect of the research, namely the barriers to meaningful involvement in ASOs. Thirty-five participants were interviewed who self-identified as current or past clients of an ASO and were living with, or engaging in, at-risk behaviors for HIV/AIDS. Photovoice, a qualitative Community-Based Research (CBR) strategy, was also used with a small sample because marginalized populations that are traditionally difficult to recruit for interviews have embraced this method due to its oral-based and interactive design. The contribution to the field of knowledge about barriers to meaningful involvement is organized around three main themes: (1) stigma, a major negative influence, is particularly powerful due to the nature of social structures in rural communities; (2) readiness for meaningful involvement, where poor health status or the desire to lead a normal life can significantly impact an individual’s involvement, and (3) characteristics of the ASO environment that are critical in determining the degree, if any, of meaningful involvement.<strong></strong></p>


2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidan A. Cronin ◽  
Alfred W. Hoadley ◽  
James Gibson ◽  
Ned Breslin ◽  
Fatoumata Kouonto Komou ◽  
...  

By 2010 Africa's urban population will have grown to over 420 million with on-site sanitation the predominant excreta disposal option. The use of on-site sanitation has important public health benefits but can result in large faecally derived loadings of nitrogen and chloride to groundwater resources. Nitrate is of particular concern, with elevated concentrations linked to potentially serious health problems. N and Cl can derive from natural sources so it is important to quantify the additional impact of human activities. Several authors have used empirical relationships between nitrate and chloride concentrations to assess the extent to which excreta influences groundwater quality. However, these relationships have assumed fixed loadings from excreta. Relationships between N and Cl have been extended here by adding country-specific estimates of average annual per capita nitrogen and chloride content of, and loading from, excreta. The results are compared with groundwater monitoring results from two very different mid-sized African cities (Timbuktu, Mali and Lichinga, Mozambique) where the vast majority of residents use on-site sanitation and are dependent on the subsurface water for drinking purposes. The results illustrate the impact of urbanisation on groundwater quality. They are compared with data from other African cities to allow the calculation of a general nitrate and chloride relationship for unsewered African urban areas. Potential interventions to help arrest rising nitrate levels and so provide a public health benefit are also examined.


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