Clogging of an Effluent Dominated Semiarid River: A Conceptual Model of Stream‐Aquifer Interactions1

Abstract: Water managers in arid and semiarid regions increasingly view treated wastewater (effluent) as an important water resource. Artificial recharge basins allow effluent to seep into the ground relieving stressed aquifers, however these basins frequently clog due to physical, chemical, and biological processes. Likewise effluent is increasingly used to maintain perennial base flow for dry streambeds, however, little is known about the impact of effluent on streambed hydraulic conductivity and stream‐aquifer interactions. We address this issue by investigating: if a clogging layer forms, how the formation of a clogging layer alters stream‐aquifer connections, and what hydrologic factors control the formation and removal of clogging layers. We focused on the Upper Santa Cruz River, Arizona where effluent from the Nogales International Waste Water Treatment Plant sustains perennial flow. Monthly sampling, along a 30 km river reach, was done with two foci: physical streambed transformations and water source identification using chemical composition. Historical dataset were included to provide a larger context for the work. Results show that localized clogging occurs in the Upper Santa Cruz River. The clogging layers perch the stream and shallow streambed causing desaturation below the streambed. With these results, a conceptual model of clogging is established in the context of a semiarid hydrologic cycle: formation during the hot premonsoon months when flow is nearly constant and removal by large flood flows (>10 m³/s) during the monsoon season. However, if the intensity of flooding during the semiarid hydrologic cycle is lessened, the dependent riparian area can experience a die off. This conceptual model leads us to the conclusion that effluent dominated riparian systems are inherently unstable due to the clogging process. Further understanding of this process could lead to improved ecosystem restoration and management.     

潜流型人工湿地基质堵塞特性试验研究

为解决设计不当或管理不善等原因造成的湿地堵塞问题,深入揭示湿地堵塞特性及形成机制,试验研究了芦苇潜流型水平流湿地和垂直流湿地的堵塞特性,并以此比较了2种湿地长期运行的稳定性.结果表明,湿地堵塞后土壤中有机质积累量较大,在湿地中各测量点达到了1.5%～5%,其主要积累区域在湿地前部表层,积累量为4%～5%,对有机物积累量与土壤深度进行数值分析发现,两者之间呈显著函数关系;水平流湿地和垂直流湿地内部堵塞机制不同,故堵塞后水平流湿地水力停留时间为3.515 4 d,较正常值缩短21.88%,而堵塞垂直流湿地水力停留时间为5.464 8 d,较正常值增长21.44%.湿地堵塞后污染物去除效率明显降低,波动较大,2种湿地比较发现,垂直流湿地的堵塞情况较水平流湿地更为严重.     

人工土壤渗滤的吸附效应

实验研究了不同粒径砂砾对颗粒COD的吸附,并在此研究基础上构建人工土壤渗滤系统,着重分析了颗粒COD在系统中的吸附和堵塞。主要结论包括:(1)颗粒直径为0.1～0.3mm的石英砂对于颗粒COD具有很好的去除效果;(2)人工土壤渗滤对颗粒COD去除率为50%～90%之间,最高可达93.66%;(3)在本实验条件下,悬浮物截留、吸附是引起人工土壤渗滤系统堵塞的主导作用,采用掩水期与落干期交替运行方式,可有效解决由此造成的堵塞问题,保证系统的长期稳定运行。     

潜流型人工湿地堵塞机制及其模型化

从物理、化学、生物三个方面分析了人工湿地堵塞的机理,指出湿地堵塞的过程实质上就是有效孔隙率减少的过程,湿地的堵塞与否,堵塞的程度如何,可由其饱和水力传导系数来表征。对几个与人工湿地堵塞有关的数学模型作了介绍和分析,并探讨了一些预防人工湿地堵塞的措施以及其未来的研究方向。     

人工潜流湿地堵塞成因及解决措施

堵塞是制约人工湿地长效运行的关键影响因素,是湿地设计的最关键环节。结合作者在人工湿地方面多年的研究和实践经验,对湿地堵塞成因进行了详细分析,提出了有效解决措施,并列举了成功工程案例,为潜流人工湿地设计提供了有益的借鉴。     

表征微滤膜过滤性能的膜堵塞模型演变及其新模型理念

为探究膜过滤过程中污染物迁移/沉积规律,推出一组符合实际过滤过程的数学模型,通过整合已有数学模型并分析其各自和共同的局限性,结合各类已有研究方法建立思路提出“非稳态膜堵塞模型拟合试验方法”理念,旨在深入剖析膜过滤过程中不同时间污染物在膜组件内部不同空间的分布状态,实现膜过滤过程及膜堵塞机理的全过程连续性研究,从而更加有针对性地解决膜组件内部不同截留层上污染物沉积问题,与此同时,提出模型优化技术为模型建立及精细化提供理论依据。

     

基于电阻率法的人工湿地堵塞区域探测方法

人工湿地污水处理技术已经得到广泛的应用,但目前对人工湿地堵塞问题,无法对堵塞区域进行精确定位。为了解决这个问题,根据潜流人工湿地结构和堵塞区域的特点,建立了长、宽、高分别为146、119和102 cm水槽物理实验模型,利用改进的高密度电阻率测井法开展了探测和定位人工湿地堵塞区域的实验研究,并结合人工湿地堵塞模型的Visual MODFLOW(VMOD)流场模拟特征,探讨了基于电阻率法探测和定位人工湿地堵塞区域的可行性。结果表明,改进的高密度电阻率测井法在电阻率探杆的电极间距不大于5 cm,供电极距D_AB/2不超过12.5 cm的情况下,通过绘制电阻率数据的二维和三维视电阻率等值线图,能够更好地定位高阻体的空间位置和形态。可见,利用改进的高密度电阻率测井方法可以探测和定位人工湿地高阻堵塞区域,实现堵塞区域的精确定位。     

生物渗滤床处理养殖废水的微生物活性及堵塞问题

以河砂作为渗滤介质,以养殖废水作为处理对象,在水力负荷为0.26 m/d,1 d淹水,2 d落干的运行方式下开展了生物渗滤床处理养殖废水及微生物活性变化规律研究,用脱氢酶活性和生物量等指标进行了污染物的去除机理和对系统堵塞机理的讨论。结果表明,微生物活性及微生物量随渗滤介质层的加深,先升高后降低,在生物渗滤床的渗滤介质上层0.65 m范围内,系统对污染物的去除率达到80%,污染物的去除主要发生在中上层介质。在一个淹水、落干周期内,微生物活性呈现基本保持不变、后逐渐升高和再降低的趋势,经历了一个完整的微生物的生长曲线,未出现堵塞问题。     

Clogging of Filtering Material Systems Used for Disposable Respirators

The article shows the problem of clogging in connection with the parameters of filtering materials used in respiratory protective equipment. The results of investigations of airflow resistance changes during the depositing of dust inside the filtering material are presented. The configuration of layers differing in mass per unit area and the number of layers, were taken into consideration. For each configuration, the clogging abilities and the changes of airflow resistance as a reason of loading with dust were assessed. The analysis of tested materials confirms the hypothesis that there is an important coincidence between the properties of the material used in filtering equipment and the clogging coefficient. The results show that the filter should have a layered structure and that the outer layer should be made of a nonwoven of relatively high surface density.     

Quantification of pore clogging characteristics in potential permeable reactive barrier (PRB) substrates using image analysis

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are now an established approach for groundwater remediation. However, one concern is the deterioration of barrier material performance due to pore clogging. This study sought to quantify the effect of pore clogging on the alteration of the physical porous architecture of two novel potential PRB materials (clinoptilolite and calcified seaweed) using image analysis of SEM-derived images. Results after a water treatment contaminated with heavy metals over periods of up to 10 months identified a decrease in porosity from c. 22% to c. 15% for calcified seaweed and from c. 22% to c. 18% for clinoptilolite. Porosity was reduced by as much as 37% in a calcified seaweed column that clogged. The mean pore size (2D) of both materials slightly decreased after water treatment with c. 11% reduction in calcified seaweed and c. 7% reduction in clinoptilolite. An increase in the proportion of crack-shaped pores was observed in both materials after the contaminated water treatment, most noticeably in the bottom of columns where contaminated water first reacted with the material. The distribution of pores (within a given image) derived from the distance transform indicated the largest morphological differences in materials was recorded in calcified seaweed columns, which is likely to impact significantly on their performance as barrier materials. The magnitude of porosity reduction over a short time period in relation to predicted barrier longevity suggest these and similar materials may be unsuited for barrier installation in their present form.