Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) – storing water in aquifers during times of excess – is a key strategy to enrich groundwater resources in water scarce regions by providing intermediate storage, addressing the typical mismatch between water demand and availability. It can help to mitigate the effects of climate change, and to support water-related environmental services. However, MAR is characterised by complex interaction of physical, biological and hydrochemical processes influencing water quality and the sustainability of infiltration rates. Individual processes are in principal known, but there is a significant knowledge gap on how they are linked and affect each other. MARSoluT addresses this knowledge gap by a collaborative effort in a multi-disciplinary team.
Applicants from all relevant research fields are encouraged to apply, namely geosciences, engineering, hydrology, and hydrochemistry. The selected candidates will perform high-level research activities towards a PhD. The MARSoluT (Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training Network) Innovative Training Network (ITN) is funded by the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action of the EU.
ESR4 project: Chaotic flow strategies to enhance contaminant degradation during managed aquifer recharge (MAR) operations
Host Institution: Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Main supervisor: Daniel Fernandez-Garcia
Objective: The candidate will develop, test and apply numerical models based on Lagrangian approaches to simulate chaotic flow during MAR operations. MAR can improve the quality of the recharging water by enhancing the reduction-oxidation processes taking place along the infiltration path and in the mixing area. Besides traditional pollutants, Emerging Organic Compounds (EOCs) have been routinely detected in the recharging water. These compounds are associated with pharmaceutical and personal-care products as well as industrial compounds or pesticides. The project contends that an engineering sequence of injections and extractions in the aquifer during MAR operations will increase the contact between recharging solution and groundwater, enhancing mixing and promoting formation of broad redox zonation capable to effectively degrade complex mixtures of EOCs. The ESR will develop modelling tools to simulate chaotic flow reactive transport during artificial recharge with the ultimate objective to assess the risk to sensitive locations, i.e., human health and ecosystems. In this context, Random Walk Particle Tracking Methods offer a convenient numerical modelling solution particularly efficient in dealing with heterogeneities and a large variety of complex transport processes such as non-Fickian transport, incomplete mixing and multiple porosity systems.
The candidate should have an engineering background (civil engineer), good theoretical and programming skills (mathematics and programming language knowledge), basic knowledge in hydrogeology and fluid mechanics.
For more information about the hosting institution, please see: https://h2ogeo.upc.edu/en/
ESR5 project: Modelling the fate and transport of microbial pathogens and emerging contaminants with Lagrangian approaches
Host Institution: Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Main supervisor: Xavier Sanchez-Vila
Objective: Recycled water used for artificial recharge of aquifers can suppose a major health risk associated to microbial pathogens and emerging contaminants. Managed Aquifer Recharge can improve the quality of the recharging water along the infiltration path and in the mixing area. Besides traditional pollutants, such as microbial pathogens, Emerging Organic Compounds (EOCs) (pharmaceutical and personal-care, industrial and agricultural compounds) have been routinely detected in the recharging water. The ESR will develop modelling tools to simulate the fate and transport of microbial pathogens and emerging contaminants during artificial recharge with the ultimate objective to assess the risk to sensitive locations, i.e., human health and ecosystems. Modelling will deal with heavy complexities, from heterogeneity of a large variety of flow and transport parameters, dealing with non-Fickian transport, incomplete mixing, multiple porosity systems, as well as non-linear sorption and co-metabolic degradation.
The candidate should have a background in modelling, environmental sciences, and organic chemistry, with solid mathematical concepts and tools. Some knowledge in microbiology would be an advantage.
For more information about the hosting institution, please see: https://h2ogeo.upc.edu/en/
