SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.39 issue4Comparison of conventional culture and real-time quantitative PCR using SYBR Green for detection of Legionella pneumophila in water samplesSynthesis of silver impregnated carbon nanotubes and cyclodextrin polyurethanes for the disinfection of water author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


Water SA

On-line version ISSN 1816-7950
Print version ISSN 0378-4738

Abstract

MUCHINGAMI, Innocent et al. On the use of electrical resistivity methods in monitoring infiltration of salt fluxes in dry coal ash dumps in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Water SA [online]. 2013, vol.39, n.4, pp.00-00. ISSN 1816-7950.

One of the principal environmental concerns relating to coal combustion waste disposal is the potential for groundwater contamination from salt fluxes and trace elements that may be leached into the underlying groundwater system. Since changes in moisture and salt concentrations usually provide contrasts in electrical properties against the host media, electrical resistivity methods can be used to monitor ingression of solute plumes as well as to detect any preferential flow paths within the ash medium. In this study, 2D electrical resistivity tomography was used to monitor brine (10% NaCl) water ingression through the unsaturated zone of a dry coal ash dump at a power station, Mpumalanga, South Africa. This was after the initial laboratory determination of the relation between electrical resistivity and moisture/salt content for the ash dump. The results showed that infiltration plume progression was more pronounced in the vertical direction, suggesting that moisture movement is mainly due to gravitational pull. There was no evidence of preferential flow within the ash medium, although the different infiltration rates for different sites suggested different permeability within the unsaturated zone.

Keywords : coal ash dumps; brine infiltration; cementation factor; electrical resistivity tomography; time lapse survey.

        · text in English     · English ( pdf )

 

Creative Commons License All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License