CIV6744   Management of Soil and Groundwater Pollution   (15 credits)

Description

Groundwater constitutes the major accessible source of fresh-water on earth. Risk of pollution for groundwater is posed by agricultural and industrial activities, drainage of urban water, and disposal of contaminants and solid waste on land. This course provides a survey of the geological, hydrological and hydrogeological factors controlling the movement and the fate of contaminants in the subsurface.Groundwater is an important resource for potable and industrial water supply in many parts of the world. It is vulnerable to long-term contamination from a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds that originate from natural and anthropogenic sources in urban and rural settings. Many remediation concepts and technologies have been developed to manage and restore contaminated groundwater, according to identified risks to receptors and other objectives. Both passive and active techniques can be implemented, using biological, chemical and physical treatment approaches for in situ and ex situ applications. A key feature is the sustainability of any remediation system, as well as the need for adequate characterisation of the host media and performance assessment methods to ensure effective implementation. This module covers the scientific and technical aspects underpinning the design and implementation of remediation systems for contaminants in the unsaturated zone and saturated zone of aquifers.

Reading List