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A multidisciplinary procedure to evaluate and optimize the efficacy of hydraulic barriers in contaminated sites: a case study in Northern Italy

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Abstract

In the last decades, hydraulic barriers have been activated in a large number of polluted sites with the aim of preventing groundwater pollution outside the contaminated area. From a regulatory point of view, there is the need of evaluating the efficacy of these barriers. For this reason, the goal of the present study is to apply a coupled experimental modelling approach aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the barrier and providing management strategies. In particular, a case study in Italy is investigated. The study case is of main interest because of its complexity due to a heterogeneous aquifer and the presence of surface water that interacts with the below aquifer. The study has been carried out through the experimental characterization of the aquifer system (coupling the classic stratigraphic techniques with the results of radiocarbon dating, as well as through pumping and injection tests) and its hydrogeological behaviour (by means of hydraulic- and the stream-head measurements, as well as some isotopic investigations), and the implementation of a numerical model (through MODFLOW 2005). The results show the effectiveness of the coupled experimental modelling approach to analyse and simulate the hydrodynamics within the test aquifer system, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of the hydraulic barrier. Based on the results of the numerical model, easy solutions were designed to manage the barrier.

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Acknowledgements

We warmly acknowledge Roberto Pecoraro, Massimo Gialli, Domenico Iaconetta, Antonina Lutri, Francesco Giudice, Enrico Galeotti, Jean Pierre Davit and Emanuele Scanferla for providing the data used in the present work and for useful discussions. The authors are grateful to the three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions on this work.

Funding

This study was funded by Versalis (eni).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 157/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Alessandro Chelli, Emma Petrella, Alessandra Feo & Fulvio Celico

  2. Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 181/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Andrea Zanini

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  1. Alessandro Chelli
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Correspondence to Andrea Zanini.

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Chelli, A., Zanini, A., Petrella, E. et al. A multidisciplinary procedure to evaluate and optimize the efficacy of hydraulic barriers in contaminated sites: a case study in Northern Italy. Environ Earth Sci 77, 246 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7420-8

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