Analytical modeling of contaminant transport in groundwater using the Karanovic solution: a case study of Baruwa, Nigeria

Contamination of groundwater has become a prevalent occurrence and it is imperative to understand the transport and outcome of contaminants which are discharged to water bodies to avoid water pollution. This research estimates and predicts the transport pathway of this contaminant in the groundwater by using HYDROSCAPE, a MATLAB based software adopting a modified analytical solution of the Advective Dispersion Equation known as the Karanovic solution. Data used for the model were based on the contamination of groundwater in Baruwa with the aid of a 100 m × 100 m pilot scheme test sourcing data from study wells within the pilot area. This study was carried out in two phases; firstly, by carrying out inverse modeling to estimate the initial concentration of contaminant and predictive modeling using the estimated initial concentration to predict the fate and transport of contaminant after 20 years by comparing output data from HYDROSCAPE. The initial concentration of the contaminant was estimated to be 7000 mg/L while the percentage differences between the output data on HYDROSCAPE and measured field data within the study wells were 4.18% and 3.81% for well W20; 7.58% and 3.81% for well W44; 43.18% and 11.06% for well W41. This was analytical solution adopted able to give a close estimate of transport of contaminant in groundwater within Baruwa. HYDROSCAPE should only be used for representative purposes or as a quick and cost-effective means for risk analysis to determine the extent and severity of the contamination to the environment.