MULTIPLE
SPLITS OF THE PLUME: telescoping of capture zones
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By
the earthDr!
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The
first figure describes the initial pumping conditions for three recovery
wells oriented along
In this figure, there are three recovery wells and three capture zones. Note that the width of capture for the most upgradient capture zone (left-most) is equal to the width of the capture zone depicted by the blue-curved line. In the two-downgradient recovery wells, the actual width of capture is greater than that depicted by the blue-curved line signifying the capture zone. The most-upgradient recovery well influences those flowpaths, just outside of the upgradient capture zone, to be diverted to flow inwardly toward the long-axis of the plume. These flowpaths are now re-positioned so that they can be captured by the next-downgradient recovery well. Note that there is a difference between actual and apparent capture zones for all but the most-upgradient or first recovery well. With each succeeding downgradient recovery well, the actual capture zone increases in size or in zone of capture. Not only does the capture zone increase in width, but it also increases in depth with successive downgradient recovery wells. This telescoping of recovery wells causes the focusing of ground-water flowpaths from greater and greater distances normal to the non-pumping ground-water flowpath to which these three recovery wells were located. Given sufficient time to allow the clean, outer ground-water flowpaths to be deflected and flush contaminants from the soil or the cracks, crevices, joints, and fractures of bedrock, |
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