MODFLOW/MT3D Based Three-Dimensional Groundwater Flow and Transport Simulation of Uranium Contamination in Bathinda District, Punjab, India
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 27, Issue 4
Abstract
Punjab, Northern India, is one of the states most affected by uranium contamination in its groundwater. Uranium contamination is extremely difficult to remediate. Predictive rather than remedial measures are more effective in uranium contamination. The groundwater modeling approach is useful when predicting groundwater flow and uranium transport, which aids the appropriate and timely preventive measures to ensure the availability of potable water. This study uses MODFLOW/MT3D to predict the uranium concentrations in the groundwater in Bathinda District, Punjab, India. The model involves a transient state hydrogeological simulation of a three-layered aquifer. The groundwater flow results are comparable with the observed data with the correlation coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) values of 0.9404, 1.2311 m, and 9.985%, respectively. The calibrated model is sensitive to evapotranspiration (EVT) and recharge rate variations. The uranium MT3D model calibration shows a good match between the observed and calculated data with R2, RMSE, and NRMSE values of 0.9962, 1.4894 m, and 2.90%, respectively. The model predicts that the study area will fall into the category of a groundwater deficit zone. In addition, it predicts an increase in uranium contamination by an average of 40.33% by 2030.
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Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 27 • Issue 4 • October 2023
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 9, 2022
Accepted: Feb 28, 2023
Published online: Jun 20, 2023
Published in print: Oct 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Nov 20, 2023
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