Are impermeable curtains necessary for a groundwater contaminant remediation project?

Ming Guo; Yun Yang; Qian-kun Luo; Ying-chun Li; Hai-chun Ma; Jia-zhong Qian

doi:10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280052

Volume 13 Issue 3

Jun. 2025

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Article Navigation > Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering > 2025 > 13(3): 237-249

Guo M, Yang Y, Luo QK, et al. 2025. Are impermeable curtains necessary for a groundwater contaminant remediation project?. Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering, 13(3): 237-249 doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280052

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Are impermeable curtains necessary for a groundwater contaminant remediation project?

doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280052

1.
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
2.
Huai River Water Resources Commission, Bengbu 233001, Anhui Province, China
3.
Public-welfare Geological Survey Management Center of Anhui Province & Geological Survey and Environmental Monitoring Center of Anhui Province, Hefei 230091, China

More Information

Corresponding author: QKLuo@hfut.edu.cn
Received Date: 2024-07-23
Accepted Date: 2024-12-28

Available Online: 2025-06-27

Publish Date: 2025-06-30

Abstract

Abstract

Constructing impermeable curtains to contain contaminant in aquifers is a costly and complex process that can impact the structure integrity of aquifer systems. Are impermeable curtains necessary for a groundwater contaminant remediation project? This study evaluates the necessity of impermeable curtains for groundwater contaminant remediation projects. Specifically, it considers remediation efforts based on the Pump and Treat (PAT) technique under various hydrogeological conditions and contaminant properties, comparing the total remediation cost and effectiveness. To further investigate, a multi-objective simulation and optimization model, utilizing the Multi-Objective Fast Harmony Search (MOFHS) algorithm, was employed to identify optimal groundwater remediation system designs that without impermeable curtains. Both a two-dimensional (2-D) hypothetical example and a three-dimensional (3-D) field example were used to assess the necessity of constructing impermeable curtains. The 2-D hypothetical example demonstrated that the installation of impermeable curtain is justified only when the dispersivity (α_L) of the contaminant reaches 100 meters. In most cases, particularly at sites with porosity (n) under 0.3, alternative, more cost-effective, and efficient remediation strategies may be available, making impermeable barriers unnecessary. The optimization results of the 3-D field example further corroborate the conclusions derived from the 2-D hypothetical example. These findings provide valuable guidance for more scientifically informed, reasonable, and cost-effective groundwater contaminant remediation projects.
- Groundwater contaminant,
- Hydrogeological condition,
- Contaminant characteristics,
- Impermeable curtains,
- Simulation and optimization,
- PAT

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