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Hydrological tracing
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Artificial tracers in hydrologyThe use of artificial tracers in hydrogeology is a very ancient technique. It is an effective tool for managing and preserving water resources and protecting the environment.
The increasing demand for hydrological assessments requiring the use of artificial tracers is motivated by two main factors: the challenge of managing water resources and the growth in pollutant shipments.
This new technique means that the fluorescent and saline properties of tracers can be employed to detect the point of origin of water, the location of run-off and hydraulic connections, and to reveal the risks of pollutants spreading.
The results obtained can provide definitive answers to all these problems, helping empower economic and social actors regarding their environmental impact. |
Overview of the different tracers |
Below, a reminder of the different possible applications and their objectives: |
Applications |
Goals |
Abstraction of groundwater/spring water |
Delimitation of a supply catch basin |
Check that a determined point is found in the catch basin |
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Study of the respective inputs of different waters |
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Protection areas of under-ground waters |
Check of an hydraulic connection between the injection and catch point |
Study of transit times and flow velocity |
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Sizing of protection zones |
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Supply areas of run-offs |
Delimitation of feeding areas |
Check that a given location is found in the feeding area of capture |
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Knowledge of underground inflows |
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Risks assessment / Incidents simulation |
Check of a hydraulic connection and an installation/ a capture site |
Assessment of the operational timing |
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Monitoring of implantation of the supervision point |
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Estimate of the size of the impacts during risk assessments |
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Simulation of the incidental effect causing infiltration of dangerous liquids in underground waters |
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Contaminated Sites / Dubious areas |
Study of seepage runoff |
Verification of the right place of sampling points downstream from a site |
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Landfills |
Verification of outflows under existing landfills |
Monitoring of seepage paths : meteoric waters flow towards foreseen drainages |
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Monitoring of waterproofing of cover layers |
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Assessment of sites for new landfills : e.g. verification that a site is away from a supply catch basin |
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Verification of the right spot of the surveillance point |
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Interaction surface waters / ground waters |
Detection and localization of seepage or water flows exfiltration sections |
Detection of outflows under water streams |
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Identification of drain places of closed lakes |
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Detection of parasite waters |
Identification et quantification of the arrival to a seepage catch coming from a water stream |
Verification of the arrival to a capture of close rainwater infiltrations |
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Drilling/Piezometer |
Control of the representativeness of underground water samples through tagging the drilling fluid |
Control of leak-proof caps dividing various levels of catchment |
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Expert assessment in case of damages |
Verification of the point of entry of waters seeping into a building |
Determination of aquifer parameters / Modelling of ground-water flows |
Determination hydraulic parameters such as the outflow velocity and dispersion coefficient |
Calculation of the storing volume from empty volumes allowing outflow |
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Adapt and validate outflow models and mass transport in solution form |
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Verifications of outflows directions predicted with respect to observed directions |
In particular in karstic environment, artificial tracing remains essential to mark out hydrogeological systems and assess the transit characteristics from the Residence Time Distribution (RTD). Although karstic and cracked environments concentrate the larger variety of tracing applications, the latter are not limited to this type of environment: |
Aquifers Types |
Ways for tracers’ application |
Karstic Aquifers |
Regional recognition of underground outflows |
Development of conceptual models of karstic systems |
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Delimitation of catchment basins from karstic sources |
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Highlight of the flux of karstic waters |
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Aquifers in loose rocks |
Regional studies of underground outflows |
Delimitation of catchment basins |
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Experimental simulation of the spread of pollutants |
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Determination of aquifer’s parameters |
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Delimitation of input areas of polluting material |
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Flows in aquifer slopes and in cracked rocks |
Highlight of outflows in bedrocks |
Studies of aquifer structures (cracks, rifts, furrow etc.)
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Highlight of preferential flows in water slopes (water veins…) |
►Our video Artificial tracers and Hydrology
►Catalog 2019/2020
Download the catalog 2019/2020
►Bibliography
The use of fluorescent dyes as tracers in highly saline groundwater
Source: Journal of Hydrology ( 2008) 358, 124-133
Utilisation des traceurs artificiels en hydrogéologie Guide pratique
Groupe de travil Traçage de la Société suisse d'hydrogéologie SSH
Source: Berichte des BWG, Série Geologie - Rapports de l'OFEG, Série Géologie - Rapporti dell' UFAEG, Série Géologia No 3 - Berne 2002
P. GOMBERT et J. CARRE
Source: KARSTOLOGIA n°58, 2011 (41 à 53)
Evaluation de traceurs artificiels pour l'étude du transport de solutés dans les eaux souterraines
H. BAUWELS
Source: Rapport du BRGM R 38323 de Février 1995
BRGM/RP-58237-FR
CFH - Colloque Hydrogéologie et karst au travers des travaux de Michel Lepiller 17 mai 2008 |
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