Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
table. The model results indicate that virtually all of the water flowing
through the aquifer discharges to the St. Clair River and Lake Huron. The
water level contours in the bedrock valley indicate a generally westward
groundwater flow system. Since hydraulic gradient varies across the bedrock
valley, the rates of groundwater flow also vary. Calculations indicate that
groundwater flux into and out of the valley are about 0.9 and 0.5 m
3
/s,
respectively, for a 100 m strip of aquifer. The amount which flows westward
out of the (0.5 m
3
/s) probably discharges to the St. Clair River. Discharge of
groundwater from the Canadian side of the Freshwater Aquifer is calculated
to be between 0.45 and 0.50 m
3
/s for that portion of the river between Lake
Huron and Stag Island.
3.3.
Case study 2: Port Granby radioactive disposal site
Canada has a uranium refinery, at Port Hope, Ontario. The waste from
refinery was disposed at Port Granby waste management site located on
the north shore of Lake Ontario (Fig. 5). In recognition of concern over
the possible contamination of surface lake waters, the concentrations of
radium and uranium were measured in water samples collected of Lake
Ontario coastal zone near waste site. These data showed that the leachate
infiltrating and seeping to coastal zone of Lake Ontario. The plume, moving
parallel to the shoreline in the direction of the prevailing wind direction
(Fig. 5). The finite element model applied to calculate hydraulic head and
contamination discharge to lakeshore. The predicted Ra-226 contamination
Fig. 5.
Location of waste disposal site and Ra-226 concentration in Lake Ontario,
Canada.
