Browsing by Author "Xu, Y."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Application of multi‑method approach to assess groundwater–surface water interactions, for catchment management
    (Springer, 2018) Madlala, T.; Kanyerere, Thokozani; Oberholster, P.; Xu, Y.
    Globally, the dependence of river systems to delayed discharge of subsurface water to augment flows during dry seasons is well documented. Discharge of fresh subsurface water can dilute concentrated river flow quality during reduced flow. Observed and reported results on the Berg River’s declining water quantity and quality are a concern to the regions socio-economic growth and environmental integrity. Understanding the role of subsurface water discharges on the quantity and quality of receiving surface water courses can improve their management during dry periods. A case study was designed and implemented in the upper Berg River catchment in the Western Cape Province of South Africa to assess the influence of groundwater–surface water interaction on water quantity and quality. This study aimed to quantify and characterize the quality of subsurface water available in the upper catchment to improve observed declining water quality downstream. Hydrograph separation provided estimates of water fluxes during 2012–2014 low and high flow periods, while hydrochemical analysis provided insights on impacts of major land use activity in this catchment on water resources. Hydrograph separation analysis indicated that the Berg River is 37.9% dependent on subsurface water discharges annually. Dominant Na–Cl-type water indicates the quality of water from the upper Berg River is largely affected by natural processes including short residence times of aquifer water, rock–water interactions and atmospheric deposition of NaCl ions. These results provide insights for suggesting management options to be implemented to protect subsurface water for continued dilution and water resources management in the lower catchments.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    NON-INVASIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF UNSATURATED ZONE TRANSPORT IN DRY COAL ASH DUMPS: A CASE STUDY OF TUTUKA, SOUTH AFRICA
    (University of the Western Cape, 2013) Muchingami, Innocent I.; Xu, Y.
    The management of the large volumes of solid wastes produced as coal combustion residue is of particular concern due to the presence of leachable metals and salts which may constitute a long term environmental risk and potential contamination of both surface and groundwater systems of the surrounding environment. In order to implement an efficient monitoring scheme and to assess the impact of the ash dump on the hydrologic system, a thorough knowledge on the migration of solutes fluxes in dry ash dumps as well as the controls on the transport of these solutes to the underlying groundwater system is required. The conventional methods which have been widely used for such applications are centred on extracting and analysing several samples from observation wells are drilled on the dump. This has however created a potentially hazardous situation as the installation of monitoring wells may result in the creation of new fluid pathways and results in further migration of leachates. Nevertheless, non–invasive characterization has often been useful in the determination of subsurface hydraulic properties and is a key step towards the solution of real-life problems in hydrology, hydrogeology and soil science. In contaminant transport non-invasive methods have often proved to be an efficient tool as compared to traditional drilling and sampling techniques which in most cases results in the creation of preferential flow paths and do not allow for the space and time resolution needed for the monitoring of hydrological and environmental processes. In this context, this study seeks to develop a generic conceptual model for the ash dump through the use of non-invasive geophysical techniques and numerical modelling techniques at the Tutuka Ash dump, Mpumalanga South Africa. Changes in electrical resistivity were used correlate changes in moisture contents during moisture and salt leachate ingression in ash dumps with a sufficient accuracy. A determination of the suitability of Archie‘s law to describe the relationship between electrical resistivity and solute transport ash medium was achieved through empirical laboratory experiments. Electrical resistivity tomography was then used as an appropriate tool for the elucidation of potential flow paths and brine dispersion in the ash dump. The flow rates through the ash dump were estimated by considering the rate of brine injection and the distance travelled by the brine plume over the time spanned in time lapse infiltration experiments. Additional geophysical profiles managed to show the lithostratigraphy of underlying hydro-geology, thereby ensuring that the knowledge of the geology can be established without the application of any intrusive methods. To ensure that development of the conceptual model of the unsaturated zone transport of the ash dump was developed with sufficient accuracy, numerical models were also used to describe solute transport in the vadose zone. The HYDRUS2D numerical package was used simulate the flux dynamics within the unsaturated zone of the coal ash medium, so as to develop a conceptual understanding of water flow and salt transport through the unsaturated zone of the coal ash medium. The results from the study suggested a conceptual solute transport model that consists of a two layers. The upper layer represented the unsaturated zone of the ash dump which was the source of any potential contaminant transport that could be of concern. The lower layer describe the underlying the subsurface environment to the ash dump which include the soil zone, the shallow aquifer and the deep fractured rock aquifer. To enable this conceptualisation, results from the numerical simulations and geophysical interpretations of the electrical resistivity profiles were the critical components for optimising the site-specific subsurface water flow and solute transport processes, as well as producing the most acceptable conceptualisation of the ash dump system that could be used in hazard assessment and mitigation against potential groundwater pollution. The conceptual models developed in this study proposed an explanation on impact of the ash dump to the hydro-geologic and the eco-hydrologic environment by proposing a scenario of contamination of the underling ash dump and the existing. In this regard, the study managed to provide important scenarios that may be necessary during mitigation procedures for both the ash dump and the wetland. Key words: non-invasive, coal ash, time lapse, electrical resistivity tomography, numerical models, HYDRUS2D, conceptual model.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Towards a groundwater source and aquifer protection zoning policy in South Africa: Assessment of the legal, socio-economic and institutional arrangements
    (University of Western Cape, 2009) Pienaar, Harrison Hursiney; Xu, Y.
    The need for a fundamental change in our approach to water management in South Africa is largely underpinned by the country's Constitution (Act 108 of 1996). Section 24 in Chapter 2 of the Constitution is perhaps the most relevant to be considered when developing a groundwater source and aquifer protection zoning policy, as it explicitly endorses the right to have the environment protected. The mandate required to give effect to the overall protection of South Africa's water resources spans across several sectors and government departments, with expected roles and responsibilities not always clearly defined. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) is primarily responsible for water resource management. However, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAn, the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) are all key role-players because of their respective responsibilities for biodiversity conservation, land management and development planning across government.