River‐Connected Aquifers: Geophysics, Stratigraphy, Hydrogeology, and Geochemistry

Abstract

Pumping of water from wells constructed in aquifers adjacent to a river commonly causes infiltration of river water toward the wells, thereby increasing the total available water yield. This type of water production has been used extensively in many European countries and, to a lesser extent, in North America. The flow of river water through permeable riverbed and aquifer sediments, commonly referred to as riverbank filtration, can provide filtration and general purification benefits. Some of the most important considerations in managing aquifer systems of this type include the stratigraphic controls on the flow path and infiltration flux for river water entering the aquifer, the travel time between the river and the pumping wells, and the spatial and temporal variations in geochemical reactions that occur as river water infiltrates the aquifer, leading to changes in water quality. In this contribution, the Fredericton Aquifer, which is considered typical of many alluvial‐valley water‐supply aquifers, is used as a case study to illustrate possible approaches to the characterization of river‐recharged aquifer systems, and to describe some of the important stratigraphic, hydrogeologic, and geochemical features of these systems. The combined use of geophysical, hydrogeological, and geochemical methods of investigation has led to a more complete understanding of river water infiltration toward municipal wells and the resulting water quality implications.

River sediment and flow characteristics near a bank filtration water supply: Implications for riverbed clogging

“…The research does not include detailed consideration of the aquifer sediments beneath the riverbed, as these have been the subject of previous research (e.g. Thomas et al, 1994;Al et al, 2005;Amskold, 2005;Dawe, 2006).…”