NON-INVASIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF UNSATURATED ZONE TRANSPORT IN DRY COAL ASH DUMPS: A CASE STUDY OF TUTUKA, SOUTH AFRICA

Doctor ScientiaeThe management of the large volumes of solid wastes produced as coal combustion residue is of particular concern due to the presence of leachable metals and salts which may constitute a long term environmental risk and potential contamination of both surface and groundwater systems of the surrounding environment. In order to implement an efficient monitoring scheme and to assess the impact of the ash dump on the hydrologic system, a thorough knowledge on the migration of solutes fluxes in dry ash dumps as well as the controls on the transport of these solutes to the underlying groundwater system is required. The conventional methods which have been widely used for such applications are centred on extracting and analysing several samples from observation wells are drilled on the dump. This has however created a potentially hazardous situation as the installation of monitoring wells may result in the creation of new fluid pathways and results in further migration of leachates. Nevertheless, non–invasive characterization has often been useful in the determination of subsurface hydraulic properties and is a key step towards the solution of real-life problems in hydrology, hydrogeology and soil science. In contaminant transport non-invasive methods have often proved to be an efficient tool as compared to traditional drilling and sampling techniques which in most cases results in the creation of preferential flow paths and do not allow for the space and time resolution needed for the monitoring of hydrological and environmental processes. In this context, this study seeks to develop a generic conceptual model for the ash dump through the use of non-invasive geophysical techniques and numerical modelling techniques at the Tutuka Ash dump, Mpumalanga South Africa. Changes in electrical resistivity were used correlate changes in moisture contents during moisture and salt leachate ingression in ash dumps with a sufficient accuracy. A determination of the suitability of Archie‘s law to describe the relationship between electrical resistivity and solute transport ash medium was achieved through empirical laboratory experiments. Electrical resistivity tomography was then used as an appropriate tool for the elucidation of potential flow paths and brine dispersion in the ash dump. The flow rates through the ash dump were estimated by considering the rate of brine injection and the distance travelled by the brine plume over the time spanned in time lapse infiltration experiments. Additional geophysical profiles managed to show the lithostratigraphy of underlying hydro-geology, thereby ensuring that the knowledge of the geology can be established without the application of any intrusive methods. To ensure that development of the conceptual model of the unsaturated zone transport of the ash dump was developed with sufficient accuracy, numerical models were also used to describe solute transport in the vadose zone. The HYDRUS2D numerical package was used simulate the flux dynamics within the unsaturated zone of the coal ash medium, so as to develop a conceptual understanding of water flow and salt transport through the unsaturated zone of the coal ash medium. The results from the study suggested a conceptual solute transport model that consists of a two layers. The upper layer represented the unsaturated zone of the ash dump which was the source of any potential contaminant transport that could be of concern. The lower layer describe the underlying the subsurface environment to the ash dump which include the soil zone, the shallow aquifer and the deep fractured rock aquifer. To enable this conceptualisation, results from the numerical simulations and geophysical interpretations of the electrical resistivity profiles were the critical components for optimising the site-specific subsurface water flow and solute transport processes, as well as producing the most acceptable conceptualisation of the ash dump system that could be used in hazard assessment and mitigation against potential groundwater pollution. The conceptual models developed in this study proposed an explanation on impact of the ash dump to the hydro-geologic and the eco-hydrologic environment by proposing a scenario of contamination of the underling ash dump and the existing. In this regard, the study managed to provide important scenarios that may be necessary during mitigation procedures for both the ash dump and the wetland. Key words: non-invasive, coal ash, time lapse, electrical resistivity tomography, numerical models, HYDRUS2D, conceptual model

On the use of electrical resistivity methods in monitoring infiltration of salt fluxes in dry coal ash dumps in Mpumalanga, South Africa

One of the principal environmental concerns relating to coal combustion waste disposal is the potential for groundwater contamination from salt fluxes and trace elements that may be leached into the underlying groundwater system. Since changes in moisture and salt concentrations usually provide contrasts in electrical properties against the host media, electri - cal resistivity methods can be used to monitor ingression of solute plumes as well as to detect any preferential flow paths within the ash medium. In this study, 2D electrical resistivity tomography was used to monitor brine (10% NaCl) water ingression through the unsaturated zone of a dry coal ash dump at a power station, Mpumalanga, South Africa. This was after the initial laboratory determination of the relation between electrical resistivity and moisture/salt content for the ash dump. The results showed that infiltration plume progression was more pronounced in the vertical direction, suggesting that moisture movement is mainly due to gravitational pull. There was no evidence of preferential flow within the ash medium, although the different infiltration rates for different sites suggested different permeability within the unsaturated zone.Department of HE and Training approved lis

On the use of electrical resistivity methods in monitoring infiltration of salt fluxes in dry coal ash dumps in Mpumalanga, South Africa

One of the principal environmental concerns relating to coal combustion waste disposal is the potential for groundwater contamination from salt fluxes and trace elements that may be leached into the underlying groundwater system. Since changes in moisture and salt concentrations usually provide contrasts in electrical properties against the host media, electrical resistivity methods can be used to monitor ingression of solute plumes as well as to detect any preferential flow paths within the ash medium. In this study, 2D electrical resistivity tomography was used to monitor brine (10% NaCl) water ingression through the unsaturated zone of a dry coal ash dump at a power station, Mpumalanga, South Africa. This was after the initial laboratory determination of the relation between electrical resistivity and moisture/salt content for the ash dump. The results showed that infiltration plume progression was more pronounced in the vertical direction, suggesting that moisture movement is mainly due to gravitational pull. There was no evidence of preferential flow within the ash medium, although the different infiltration rates for different sites suggested different permeability within the unsaturated zone