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Multi-technique approach for estimating groundwater transit time through the saturated zone of an unconfined granular aquifer in Quebec, Canada

Approche multi-technique pour l’estimation du temps de transit des eaux souterraines dans la zone saturée d’un aquifère libre granulaire au Québec, Canada

Enfoque de técnicas múltiples para estimar el tiempo de tránsito del agua subterránea a través de la zona saturada de un acuífero granular no confinado en Quebec, Canadá

多技术方法用于估算加拿大魁北克州潜水砾石含水层饱和区地下水的流动时间

Abordagem multitécnica para estimar o tempo de trânsito de águas subterrâneas através da zona saturada de um aquífero granular não confinado em Quebec, Canadá

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Abstract

Agricultural activities can generate contaminants that enter underlying granular aquifers and become transported within the groundwater to adjacent streams. This paper reports on estimation of the transit time of groundwater through a saturated granular unconfined aquifer in an agricultural region of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec (Canada). A multi-technique approach is applied, integrating analytical, hydrogeochemical, and numerical methods—to determine groundwater flow from a recharge (wetland) to discharge zone (groundwater seep). Fieldwork observations, including borehole drilling, soil/groundwater sampling, and piezometers, were combined with laboratory measurements of soil hydrogeological properties and stable (δ18OH2O and δ2HH2O)/radioactive (3H) isotopes in the collected groundwater. The Dupuit–Forchheimer-based analytical method used here estimated a groundwater transit time of 7.75 years, whereas the hydrogeochemical-based and three-dimensional FEFLOW numerical method produced estimates of 7.34 and 7.27 years, respectively. The similarity of the three estimates highlights the robustness of the approach, which integrates field data to produce accurate assessments of groundwater transit time. This multi-technique approach will help in the sustainable management of groundwater resources and for preparing effective environmental plans for agricultural practices in areas underlain by aquifers.

Résumé

Les activités agricoles peuvent générer des contaminants qui pénètrent dans les aquifères granulaires sous-jacents et qui sont transportés dans les eaux souterraines vers les cours d’eau adjacents. Cet article présente une estimation du temps de transit de l’eau souterraine à travers un aquifère libre granulaire saturé dans une région agricole du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, au Québec (Canada). Une approche multi-technique est appliquée—intégrant des méthodes analytiques, hydrogéochimiques et numériques—pour déterminer les modalités d’écoulement de l’eau souterraine depuis une zone de recharge (zone humide) vers une zone de décharge (suintement d’eau souterraine). Les observations sur le terrain, y compris réalisation de forages, échantillonnage du sol et des eaux souterraines et piézométrie, ont été combinées avec des mesures en laboratoire des propriétés hydrogéologiques du sol et des isotopes stables (δ18OH2O et δ2HH2O)/radioactifs (3H) dans les eaux souterraines collectées. La méthode analytique de Dupuit-Forchheimer utilisée ici a estimé le temps de transit des eaux souterraines à 7.75 ans, tandis que la méthode numérique tridimensionnelle FEFLOW et la méthode hydrogéochimique ont produit des estimations de 7.34 et 7.27 ans, respectivement. La similitude des trois estimations souligne la robustesse de l’approche, qui intègre les données de terrain pour produire des évaluations précises du temps de transit des eaux souterraines. Cette approche multi-technique contribuera à la gestion durable des ressources en eaux souterraines et à la préparation de plans environnementaux efficaces pour les pratiques agricoles dans les zones reposant sur des aquifères.

Resumen

Las actividades agrícolas pueden generar contaminantes que penetran en los acuíferos granulares subyacentes y son transportados por las aguas subterráneas hasta los cursos de agua cercanos. En este trabajo se presenta una estimación del tiempo de tránsito del agua subterránea a través de un acuífero granular saturado no confinado en una región agrícola de Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec (Canadá). Se aplica un enfoque de técnicas múltiples -integrando métodos analíticos, hidrogeoquímicos y numéricos- para determinar el flujo de agua subterránea desde una zona de recarga (humedal) hasta una zona de descarga (filtración de agua subterránea). Las observaciones de campo, incluyendo la perforación de pozos, el muestreo de suelo/agua subterránea y los piezómetros, se combinaron con mediciones de laboratorio de las propiedades hidrogeológicas del suelo y de los isótopos estables (δ18OH2O y δ2HH2O)/radioactivos (3H) en el agua subterránea recogida. El método analítico basado en Dupuit-Forchheimer utilizado aquí estimó un tiempo de tránsito del agua subterránea de 7.75 años, mientras que el método basado en la hidrogeoquímica y el método numérico tridimensional FEFLOW produjeron estimaciones de 7.34 y 7.27 años, respectivamente. La similitud de las tres estimaciones pone de manifiesto la solidez del planteamiento, que integra datos de campo para producir evaluaciones precisas del tiempo de tránsito en las aguas subterráneas. Este enfoque de múltiples técnicas ayudará a la gestión sostenible de los recursos hídricos subterráneos y a la preparación de planes medioambientales eficaces para las prácticas agrícolas en áreas con acuíferos.

摘要

农业活动可能产生污染物，进入底部的砾石含水层并通过地下水传输至相邻的河流。本文报告了对加拿大魁北克省Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean地区的一个农业区域中饱和砾石潜水含水层内地下水流动时间的估计。采用了多技术方法，包括分析方法、水文地球化学方法和数值方法，以确定从湿地补给区到地下水渗出的排泄区的地下水流动条件。现场观测包括钻孔、土壤/地下水采样和压力计等，与实验室测量的土壤水文地质特性以及收集的地下水中稳定同位素（δ18OH2O和δ2HH2O）和放射性同位素（3H）进行了结合。本文所使用的基于Dupuit-Forchheimer分析方法估计地下水流动时间为7.75年，而基于水文地球化学和三维FEFLOW数值方法的估计分别为7.34年和7.27年。这三个估计结果的相似性凸显了该方法的可靠性，该方法将现场数据整合起来，能够准确评估地下水流动时间。这种多技术方法有助于可持续管理地下水资源，并为区域下伏含水层下农业实践的有效环境计划提供参考。

Resumo

As atividades agrícolas podem gerar contaminantes que entram nos aquíferos granulares subjacentes e são transportados pelas águas subterrâneas para os córregos adjacentes. Este trabalho relata a estimativa do tempo de trânsito das águas subterrâneas através de um aquífero granular saturado não confinado em uma região agrícola de Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec (Canadá). Uma abordagem multitécnica integrando métodos analíticos, hidrogeoquímicos e numéricos foi aplicada para determinar o fluxo da água subterrânea de uma zona de recarga (área úmida) para uma zona de descarga (nascente). Observações de campo, incluindo perfuração de poços, amostragem de solo/água subterrânea e piezômetros, foram combinadas com medições laboratoriais de propriedades hidrogeológicas do solo e isótopos estáveis (δ18OH2O e δ2HH2O)/isótopos radioativos (3H) nas águas subterrâneas coletadas. O método analítico baseado na solução de Dupuit-Forchheimer aqui utilizado estimou um tempo de trânsito de águas subterrâneas de 7.75 anos, enquanto o método numérico tridimensional FEFLOW baseado em hidrogeoquímica produziu estimativas de 7.34 anos e 7.27 anos, respectivamente. A similaridade das três estimativas destaca a robustez da abordagem, que integra dados de campo para produzir avaliações precisas do tempo de trânsito das águas subterrâneas. Esta abordagem multitécnica ajudará na gestão sustentável dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos e na preparação de planos ambientais eficazes para as práticas agrícolas em áreas com aquíferos subjacentes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank David Noël for his greatly appreciated help and guidance during field work and Mike Bellemare, Laura-Pier Perron Desmeules, and Pier-Olivier Gilbert for their assistance during field work.

Funding

The authors thank Mitacs Globalink Graduate Fellowship Program,Canada (IT17061), Fonds d’appui au rayonnement des régions (FARR), and Fondation de l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (FUQAC) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département des Sciences Appliquées, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Québec, G7H 2B1, Canada

    Chaima Miled, Romain Chesnaux & Julien Walter

  2. Centre d’études sur les ressources minérales, Groupe de recherche Risque Ressource Eau, Saguenay, Québec, G7H 2B1, Canada

    Chaima Miled, Romain Chesnaux & Julien Walter

  3. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2T 0A4, Canada

    Lamine Boumaiza

  4. Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Laboratoire sur les écosystèmes terrestres boréaux (EcoTer), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Québec, G7H 2B1, Canada

    Maxime C. Paré

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Correspondence to Chaima Miled.

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Miled, C., Chesnaux, R., Walter, J. et al. Multi-technique approach for estimating groundwater transit time through the saturated zone of an unconfined granular aquifer in Quebec, Canada. Hydrogeol J 31, 1847–1861 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02663-0

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