Mapping the Vulnerability of Groundwater to Wastewater Spills for Source Water Protection in a Shale Gas Region

Source water protection in areas of shale gas development encompasses identifying that are the most vulnerable to groundwater quality deterioration due spills natural production wastewater. This study uses density-dependent flow and transport code TOUGH2 quantify time distance travel saline wastewater plumes for different hydrogeological settings Northeast British Columbia. The models were designed address three main factors identified from DRASTIC method vulnerability assessment: (1) depth water, (2) impact vadose zone, (3) conductivity aquifer materials. zone permeability table dominant controls on migration rate footprint. Overall, region is relatively low, with exceptions near river valleys shallow tables. maps can be used as a preliminary risk assessment tool, they based influencing potential spill contaminate an aquifer.