Modeling zinc and sodium chloride migration in vadose zone soils beneath stormwater infiltration devices

J. B. Mikula, S. E. Clark, K. H. Baker

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Urbanization has been responsible for an increase in the amount of impervious surfaces, leading to an increase in stormwater runoff and a decrease in groundwater recharge. Stormwater runoff contains pollutants, such as nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, solids, organic compounds, pesticides, and chlorides, which have greatly contributed to the degradation of receiving waters due to surface discharge of stormwater. This has prompted stormwater managers to consider implementing more infiltration practices into their designs. However, past studies have shown that infiltrating stormwater could contaminate the groundwater, and in some cases, contamination actually has occurred. Therefore, methods for easily predicting contamination potential need to be developed. Stormwater pollutants interact with the soils in the unsaturated zone as they migrate towards the groundwater. The specific type of soil and its properties have a profound effect on the movement of water and pollutants. For this research, zinc and sodium chloride were chosen as the pollutants of interest because of their stormwater prevalence, solubility, and differing migration rates. Through the use of the SESOIL model, factors such as pollutant concentration, rainfall, vadose zone thickness, intrinsic permeability, organic content, and soil pH were evaluated to determine which ones likely have the greatest influence on pollutant migration. A factorial analysis (26 full factorial) was used to evaluate the effects of these factors on the maximum penetration depth of zinc and sodium chloride. High and low values for the factors were selected from the literature and the NRCS soils database. The pollutants were treated as separate ions (Zn+2, Na+, CI-), and the length of each simulation was set at one year. Results indicated that rainfall was a common factor controlling Zn+2, Na +, and CI- migration. Concentration was also influential in Zn+2 migration, while intrinsic permeability affected Na + and CI-.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAssociation for Environmental Health and Sciences - 21st Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water 2005
PublisherAnnual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water
Pages1-15
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9781604239522
StatePublished - 2006
Event21st Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water 2005 - Amherst, MA, United States
Duration: Oct 17 2005Oct 20 2005

Publication series

NameAssociation for Environmental Health and Sciences - 21st Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water 2005
Volume11

Other

Other21st Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water 2005
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAmherst, MA
Period10/17/0510/20/05

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Water Science and Technology

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