Advective Particle Transport Modelling of Potential Contaminated Source Sites in the Lower Pra Basin of Ghana
Authors: Oriakhi O, Okonofua ES
DOI Info: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5047930
ABSTRACT
This research sought to simulate advective particle travel and to estimate contaminant travel path and time in the lower Pra basin. The Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) Version 10.2 was used to develop a numerical model. Potential mining sites were identified and plotted on the model in order to simulate to particle travel time, path and velocity. The advective particle modeling was further done using the PMPATH package in GMS. The advective particle modeling was further done using the PMPATH package in GMS. Two major mining sites which are the Dunkwa and Wassa sites were plotted alongside seven abstraction wells. Wassa mining site was found to be the distant site from the groundwater outlet with an average of 9.1 km length and an average of 102 years with 0.24 m/days. The Dunkwa mining site had an average distance of about 4.8 km from the groundwater discharge point with an average travel time of 84.56 years and travel speed 0.16 m/days. In simulating the various wells with their contaminant abstraction rates, well 2 was found to be the safest well with a travel distance of 17.89 km and travel duration of 247.27 years at a travel speed of 0.20 m/days from possible contaminant site while well 4 has a travel distance of 6.04 km in 72.68-year km travel duration, at a speed of 0.23 m/day. It was found that possible groundwater pollution in the lower Pra basin in Ghana will have little or no immediate impact on downstream groundwater abstractions by residence for their daily groundwater demand.
Affiliations: Department of Geomatics, Faculty of Environmental Science, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Keywords: PMPATH, Advective Particle Transport, Travel Path, Contaminated Sites, Lower Pra Basin
Published date: 2021/06/30
