Two‐dimensional modeling of aquifer remediation influenced by sorption nonequilibrium and hydraulic conductivity heterogeneity

A computational model was developed to simulate aquifer remediation by pump and treat for a confined, perfectly stratified aquifer. A split‐operator finite element numerical technique was utilized to incorporate flow field heterogeneity and nonequilibrium sorption into a two‐dimensional, radially symmetric advective‐dispersive transport model. Simulations reproduced the tailing behavior commonly observed at remedial sites. Predicted remediation times were observed to increase as the degree of hydraulic conductivity heterogeneity and/or sorption nonequilibrium increased. Dimensional analysis was used to facilitate the general application of simulation results to a range of aquifer/contaminant systems. The effects of sorption nonlinearity, sorption capacity heterogeneity, and intermittent pumping were also analyzed.