Abstract
In analysing the stream–aquifer interactions and riverbank filtration (RBF) systems, it is very crucial to determine the vertical riverbank and streambed hydraulic conductivity. The riverbank and streambed focused in this investigation are a riverbank of six layers with depths of 38 m and streambed with depths of 9 m connected layers of sediments at 22 test locations and 4 test wells in the Muda River, Malaysia. In the analysis, there were a few tests involved to determine riverbank and hydraulic conductivity of vertical streambed, such as analysis of grain size, pumping test and in situ falling head standpipe permeability tests. The approximate K values of 114 samples and 15 samples taken from riverbanks and streambeds, respectively, were then calculated by employing empirical equation methods [Hazen, Hazen K (cm/s) = d10 (mm), Terzaghi, Beyer, Slichter, Sauerbrei, Kruger, Kozeny–Carman, Zunker, USBR, Zamarin, Barr, Alyamani and Sen, Chapuis, and Krumbein and Monk]. The geometric mean of K for six layers, namely the sandy silt (8.30 m/day), silty sand (47.66 m/day), gravelly sand (150.24 m/day), sandy gravel layer (418.48 m/day), gravelly sand (151.09 m/day) and silty clay (9.36 m/day) as identified characteristics by using grain-size analyses, was greater than the K of pumping test (geometric mean) (31.10 m/day) and the mean obtained from K of permeability tests (7.03 m/day). In general, the K values of upper layer of sediments of streambed were recorded to be larger in comparison with their respective lower layer of sediments. The K value for the upper layer of sediments from all tests located at the left, right and middle parts of the river ranged from 7.56 to 54.77 m/day for upper layer, from 39.80 to 128.40 m/day for middle layer and from 9.11 to 49.92 m/day for lower layer, as described by the grain-size analysis. The value of K ranges based on permeability test indicated that the value of K was from 0.036 to 1.09 m/day for the upper layer and 0.16 to 0.68 m/day for the lower layer of hyporheic sediments zone. Based on the acquired results, the conclusion that the aquifer of the focused area shows possibility for RBF and has the potential to improve the water quality and quantity is referable.
Highlights
Hyporheic zone is the transition zone between groundwater and surface water where it is mixed and exchanged in this zone (Brunke and Gonser 1997; Winter 1998; Smith 2005; Hester and Gooseff 2010)
The K values of 114 samples collected from riverbank and 15 samples from streambeds were estimated by using twelve grain-size empirical equation methods
Further observations on the area discovered that the geometric mean of Kg for the sandy silt (8.30 m/ day), silty sand (47.66 m/day), gravelly sand (150.24 m/day), sandy gravel layer (418.48 m/day), gravelly sand (151.09 m/ day) and silty clay (9.36 m/day) as determined by grainsize analyses, was greater than the geometric mean obtained from pumping tests (31.10 m/day)
Summary
Hyporheic zone is the transition zone between groundwater and surface water where it is mixed and exchanged in this zone (Brunke and Gonser 1997; Winter 1998; Smith 2005; Hester and Gooseff 2010). There were numerous previous studies that discussed a various of approaches and techniques to determine the value of streambed K, which include the permeability test, slug and bail tests, grain size analysis and pumping test (Hvorslev 1951; Chen 2000, 2004, 2005a, b, 2007; Landon et al 2001; Genereux et al 2008; Kennedy et al 2009; Springer et al 1999; Ryan and Boufadel 2007; Leek et al 2009, Chen 2000; Kelly and Murdoch 2003) Due to factors such as measurement scale and field conditions, it should be considered that each method has its own limitation (Kalbus et al 2006). Since the information regarding the characteristic properties of sediments is more attainable, sediments from
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