Perth Laboratory – Public Seminar Series 2008

Leaking sewers as a long term test case for wastewater infiltration:
Combining screening programs for micropollutants and integrated model systems

Dr Leif Wolf
Acting Professor of Hydrogeology
Geological Institute
University of Karlsruhe
Germany

*Tuesday 8 April 2008 at 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium

Abstract

The talk will review quantifications for the most relevant interactions between the anthropogenic use of water in urban areas and the groundwater resource, both in terms of quality and quantity. It will focus on the question of sewer leakage and present results from a five year monitoring project including a wide range of marker species such as iodated x-ray contrast media. In addition results from in-situ test sites for sewer leakage will be given with a focus on the role of the colmation layer. Several methods for the quantification of sewer leakage at the city scale will be presented. Finally the talk will address the outcomes of the EU-funded AISUWRS project where an existing IUWM model, UVQ (Mitchell and Diaper, 2005), was linked to a model for sewer infiltration and exfiltration, NEIMO, (DeSilva et al, 2006), as well as models of unsaturated zone flows and transport, and also with finite element or finite difference numerical groundwater models such as FEFLOW or MODFLOW. The linked process models offer the prospect of better quantification of flows and contaminant loads, including improved estimates of total recharge and its components in urban areas. A range of urban water scenarios, including different supply strategies and the effect of outside influences such as climate change or changes in societal water demand, were readily simulated once the base case had been set up and calibrated. Overall, the linked models produce higher estimates of total recharge than previous estimates once the contributions from mains leakage, wastewater and stormwater drainage are included.

About the speaker

Dr Wolf is interim leader of the Hydrogeology Department of the Geological Institute, University Karsruhe. The scientific focus of the Hydrogeology section in Karlsruhe is placed upon groundwater protection, integrated water resources management, geothermal groundwater systems, water and mass fluxes in karstic and fissured rock, numerical modelling, tracer hydrology and urban water systems.

PowerPoint Presentation
(2.6 MB)

*Note: this seminar is scheduled for Tuesday instead of the usual Thursday

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