CONTAMINANT PLUME ANALYSIS USING THE HYDRODYNAMIC DISPERSION STREAM FUNCTION (HDSF) CONCEPT

The hydrodynamic dispersion stream function (HDSF) concept has been applied to contaminant plume analysis in aquifers. First, the governing equations for the HDSF are summarized both for uniform and nonuniform seepage velocity fields. Application of the methodology is shown with the HDSF developed for a strip contaminant source in a uniform seepage velocity field under steady-state water flow and solute transport conditions in aquifers. With this solution, it is shown how to determine the hydrodynamic dispersion stream lines (HDSLs) and the hydrodynamic dispersion bounding stream lines (HDBSLs) for a given uniform ground-water flow field. Applications of the methodology are shown for saturated and unsaturated zones under some idealized conditions. The results of the model may be used for the specification of the boundaries of a contaminant plume and the path lines of contaminant particles under equilibrium conditions.