Capture‐Zone Type Curves: A Tool for Aquifer Cleanup

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Abstract
Currently a common method of aquifer cleanup is to extract the polluted ground water and, after reducing the concentration of contaminants in the water below a certain level, the treated water is either injected back into the aquifer, or if it is environmentally and economically feasible, released to a surface‐water body. The proper design of such an operation is very important, both economically and environmentally. In this paper a method is developed which can assist in the determination of the optimum number of pumping wells, their rates of discharge and locations, such that further degradation of the aquifer is avoided. The complex potential theory has been used to derive the equations for the streamlines separating the capture zone of one, two, or more pumping wells from the rest of the aquifer, A series of capture‐zone type curves are presented which can be used as tools for the design of aquifer cleanup projects. The use of these type curves is shown by an hypothetical field case example.

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