Hydrogeology and Hydrology
Title
Determination of hydrological pathways contributing to streamflow in Irish catchments
Project Coordinator(s)
Associate Prof. Bruce Misstear
Email: bmisstear@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2800
Dr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Assistant Prof. Paul Johnston
Email: pjhnston@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1372
Research Student(s)
Ronan O'Brien
Email: obrienrj@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2045
Description
This research will provide the framework for temporal proportioning of streamflow into its constituent pathways. Analysis of physical data, collected in the field and obtained from EPA, GSI, OPW and Met Eireann datasets, is used to inform and calibrate lumped, semi-lumped and distributed numerical hydrological models. This research is part of the larger ‘Pathways Project’ being carried out by the consortium of Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast, funded by the EPA under the STRIVE initiative.
Title
Characterisation of surface and near surface pathways for flow and contaminant transport in soils and subsoils
Project coordinator(s)
Associate Prof. Bruce Misstear
Email: bmisstear@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2800
Dr. Laurence Gill
Email: gilll@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1047
Assistant Prof. Paul Johnston
Email: pjhnston@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1372
Research Student(s)
Jenny Deakin
Email: deakinj@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1130
Description
A detailed understanding of flow and contaminant transfer along each of the key hydrological pathways within a catchment is critical for designing and implementing cost effective Programmes of Measures under the Water Framework Directive. The key pathways of interest in Ireland are overland flow, interflow, shallow groundwater flow and deep groundwater flow. Little is known about the interflow pathway and its relative importance in delivery of flow and contaminants to the streams.
The aim of this research is to develop a refined conceptual model of overland flow and interflow as flow pathways within each study catchment, together with an improved understanding of the transport and attenuation of pollutants along these pathways, and an estimate of pollutant loads.
This research is part of the larger ‘Pathways Project’ being carried out by a consortium of Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast, funded by the EPA under the STRIVE initiative.
Title
Recharge and groundwater vulnerability
Project coordinator(s)
Associate Prof. Bruce Misstear
Email: bmisstear@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2800
Researcher(s)
Assistant Prof. Aonghus McNabola
Email: amcnabol@tcd.ie
Tel: + 353 1 893 1130
Description
This is project 2002-W-MS/16 of the current Environmental Research Technological Development and Innovation Programme, and is being undertaken for the Environmental Protection Agency by the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin. The project is funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The project duration is 36 months, with an expected completion date in early 2006.
The overall aim of the research project is to develop a quantified link between groundwater vulnerability - as mapped using Geological Survey of Ireland procedures - and groundwater recharge. Specific objectives are to:
- Review and evaluate current methods for the estimation of groundwater recharge at sub-catchment level.
- Review current data availability and identify suitable sub-catchments which will form the basis of the experimental studies.
- Examine relationships between information from detailed instrumented sites with sub-catchment scale maps of groundwater vulnerability and aquifer potential.
- Develop a preliminary GIS based assessment tool for the estimation of groundwater recharge (recharge acceptance).
The various approaches for estimating groundwater recharge can be grouped as follows: inflow estimation, aquifer response analysis, outflow estimation and catchment water balance. For this project, where the maximum period available for field studies will be approximately 2 years, it is envisaged that the collection of new field data will focus on inflow methods such as environmental tracers, since useful results can be achieved by these methods in relatively short timeframes. On the other hand, the application of aquifer response and outflow approaches usually requires many years of data and therefore these proposed analyses will rely mainly on existing data from instrumented catchments.
The research will be carried out in areas where good, up to date, groundwater vulnerability maps are available. It will be desirable to investigate the link between recharge and vulnerability (and vulnerability indicators) for a range of vulnerability categories – specifically the high, moderate and low categories. It is not envisaged that the extreme vulnerability category will be particularly relevant, since this category will encompass a large range of aquifer types including karst areas where recharge is indirect and varies hugely from location to location.
Title
Investigation of health impacts of private ground water schemes
Project coordinator(s)
Associate Prof. Bruce Misstear
Email: bmisstear@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 2800
Researcher Student(s)
Mr. Paul Hynds
Email: hyndsp@tcd.ie
Tel: + 353 1 893 1130
Description
The health risks associated with small-scale drinking water supplies depend upon a variety of factors including: the type of contaminant, the contamination source and loading rate, the type, location and construction of the water scheme, the presence or absence of water treatment and the awareness (or lack thereof) of the associated health risks amongst consumers.
The main contaminants of concern in terms of human health and this research project are the microbial pathogens, which include:
- Bacterial contaminants i.e. E. coli 0157:H7
- Viral pathogens i.e. Rotavirus
- Protozoan organisms i.e. Cryptosporidium
Additionally, inorganic contaminants with the potential to instigate adverse human health impacts include nitrates, fluoride and arsenic.
Vulnerable population groups to waterborne illness include:
- Infants and children under 5, due to low resistance to disease
- Elderly persons
- People suffering from chronic diseases or with depressed/suppressed immune systems
The subject of this research is an assessment of the health risks associated with private rural drinking water supplies in Ireland. Methodologies previously applied in the USA and Europe will be applied to existing water quality data from Ireland in order to quantify the health risks associated with respect to microbial contamination of groundwater supplies. A quantitative risk assessment model will be developed and subsequently linked to the vulnerability to pollution of the water source in order to ascertain whether an arithmetic or geometric correlation/concurrence exists within the Irish context.
In order to establish the level of public awareness regarding water contamination and health, a survey will be prepared and completed with a view to producing a series of guidelines for private consumers on the location, implementation and operation of new well schemes.
Title
Denitrification in subsoils and groundwater
Project Coordinator(s)
Assistant Prof. Paul Johnston
Email: pjhnston@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1372
Karl Richards
Teagasc Environment Research Centre, Ireland
Research Student(s)
M.M.R. Jahangir
Email: jahangim@tcd.ie
Tel: +353 1 896 1372
Description
Denitrification is one of the main mechanisms for the reduction of nitrate (NO3-) movement through subsoils and groundwater. However this process may also lead to emissions of the greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O), rather than the environmentally benign N2. Understanding the microbial denitrification process within subsoil/groundwater will lead to a better understanding of the fate of NO3- delivery to groundwater and may also lead to management procedures for reducing both N2O emissions and NO3- leaching. The movement and transformations of NO3- from below the rooting zone to groundwater within agricultural systems is not yet well understood. The data generated from this project will assist in the prediction of NO3- occurrence in receiving waters, environmental risk assessment and contribute knowledge to Ireland’s derogation case under the Nitrates Directive and assist the achievement of Water Framework Directive objectives. Finally the N2O/N2 emissions quantified can be used to refine Irish greenhouse gas emission inventories under the Kyoto Protocol. This project quantifies NO3- reduction and indirect N2O emissions to atmosphere via subsurface denitrification while passing through and from the landscape to the surface waters.