1
|
Vergara-Sáez C, Prommer H, Siade AJ, Sun J, Higginson S. Process-Based and Probabilistic Quantification of Co and Ni Mobilization Risks Induced by Managed Aquifer Recharge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7567-7576. [PMID: 38624010 PMCID: PMC11064215 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is an increasingly used water management technique that enhances water availability while commonly generating water quality benefits. However, MAR activities may also trigger adverse geochemical reactions, especially during the injection of oxidant-enriched waters into reducing aquifers. Where this occurs, the environmental risks and the viability of mitigating them must be well understood. Here, we develop a rigorous approach for assessing and managing the risks from MAR-induced metal mobilization. First, we develop a process-based reactive transport model to identify and quantify the main hydrogeochemical drivers that control the release of metals and their mobility. We then apply a probabilistic framework to interrogate the inherent uncertainty associated with adjustable model parameters and consider this uncertainty (i) in long-term predictions of groundwater quality changes and (ii) in scenarios that investigate the effectiveness of modifications in the water treatment process to mitigate metal release and mobility. The results suggested that Co, Ni, Zn, and Mn were comobilized during pyrite oxidation and that metal mobility was controlled (i) by the sediment pH buffering capacity and (ii) by the sorption capacity of the native aquifer sediments. Both tested mitigation strategies were shown to be effective at reducing the risk of elevated metal concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Vergara-Sáez
- School
of Earth Sciences, University of Western
Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- CSIRO
Environment, Private
Bag No. 5, Wembley, Western
Australia 6913, Australia
| | - Henning Prommer
- School
of Earth Sciences, University of Western
Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- CSIRO
Environment, Private
Bag No. 5, Wembley, Western
Australia 6913, Australia
| | - Adam J. Siade
- School
of Earth Sciences, University of Western
Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- CSIRO
Environment, Private
Bag No. 5, Wembley, Western
Australia 6913, Australia
| | - Jing Sun
- School
of Earth Sciences, University of Western
Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- CSIRO
Environment, Private
Bag No. 5, Wembley, Western
Australia 6913, Australia
- State
Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Simon Higginson
- Water
Corporation of Western Australia, Leederville, Western Australia 6007, Australia
| |
Collapse
|