Tracking groundwater pollution plumes at landfill sites using borehole hydrochemical and hydrodynamic profile (BHHP) method

Abstract

Groundwater pollution at landfill sites poses a significant risk to human health and ecological security. However, efficiently tracking pollution plumes in a polluted aquifer with variable pollutants remains challenging. In order to track groundwater pollution plumes at landfill sites, an in-situ borehole hydrochemical and hydrodynamic profile (BHHP) method was developed. Total dissolved solids (TDS), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and ammonia nitrogen were selected as the hydrochemical indicators. Meanwhile, the hydrodynamic indicators included flow direction and flow velocity of groundwater. Among the three hydrochemical indicators, TDS and ORP were analyzed to be the prior alternative ones for the BHHP application. The BHHP method was successfully applied to track groundwater pollution plumes at a typical valley-type landfill site and its neighboring downstream zone. Consequently, four groundwater pollution plumes of different types and different scales were identified in both horizontal and vertical directions within the depth of 0–50 m, and the various pollution sources for the detected pollution plumes were revealed. Furthermore, the BHHP method was validated using sampling test results of groundwater chloride and chemical oxygen demand at the surveyed landfill site.