Abstract
The concept of the dividing surface and streamline is introduced to delineate groundwater flow which is intercepted by partially penetrating ditches. The depth of the dividing surface or dividing streamline is used to quantify the degree to which the ditches act as hydraulic barriers to limit the spread of contaminated groundwater in shallow water table aquifers under steady-state conditions. An analytical solution is derived which relates this depth to the water table gradient, the head difference between the ditch stage and the aquifer, the ditch width and the ratio of the vertical to horizontal hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer. The roles of recharge, aquifer heterogeneity and ditch depth in controlling the depth of the dividing surface or streamline, and thereby the effectiveness of interceptor ditches, are examined by using a numerical model.
Published Version
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