Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Volume 25, Issues 1–2, February 1997, Pages 129-156

Research paper

River bank filtration: modelling of the changes in water

chemistry with emphasis on nitrogen species
Claude Doussan a , Guillemette Poitevin b, Emmanuel Ledoux b, Michel Detay c

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https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7722(96)00024-1
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Abstract

Bank-filtrated water is an important component of the drinking water production in many countries. The changes in
the water chemistry during the transfer from the river to the aquifer have important implications for the quality of the
produced water. In this paper, we first describe certain features of the evolution of the water chemistry during bank-
filtration in the case of an experimental site, part of a large well field (Seine river, France). Here, bank-filtration leads to
highly reducing conditions in the aquifer. A conceptual and numerical macroscopic model of this evolution, focusing
on nitrogen compounds, is then presented. The model is designed to simulate organic matter mineralization and redox
reactions catalyzed by bacteria in the river bed sediments where water infiltrates. Growth and decay of bacteria are
explicitly accounted for and a numerical solution is found with an operator splitting technique. The model is able to
reproduce column experiments by von Gunten and Zobrist (1993) designed to simulate infiltration of organically
polluted river water into an aquifer. A model application to the characteristics of the experimental site is also
presented. Results of a sensitivity analysis highlight the importance of. (1) the flow rate of water infiltrating river bed
sediments; and (2) the organic carbon content of these sediments, for the evolution of the water quality during
transfer from the river to the aquifer.

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