Saltwater Intrusion Essay

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Saltwater intrusion is a naturally occurring process in coastal areas where the water from seas and oceans moves into freshwater aquifers. This process occurs due to the hydraulic connection between the saltwater and freshwater and may lead to contamination of the aquifers and the degradation of the quality of drinking water. Saltwater is denser than freshwater due to the higher amount of solutes and minerals, and thus the saltwater can force itself inland beneath the freshwater aquifers.
B. Hydrology
More solutes are dissolved in saltwater than in freshwater causing it to be denser than freshwater. Thus the hydraulic head or the liquid pressure of saltwater is higher than that of freshwater. At coastal areas, the saltwater from the oceans …show more content…

Modeling
Modeling of saltwater intrusion is considered difficult due to several factors, some are: different cracks in the aquifers that are unknown and affect saltwater intrusion, saltwater and freshwater are not present in equilibrium, the aquifer dynamics need time to adapt to the changes in intrusion patterns, cation exchange slows the advance and retreat of an intrusion, and climate change effect is unknown.
However, many numerical models are being developed one of which is SEAWAT and it is based on density dependent ground water flow and solute transport to give a result of the distribution of groundwater salinity in an aquifer.
F. Control and mitigation
Saltwater contamination of drinking wells and of water supplies is being observed more frequently. The effects vary depending on the degree of saltwater intrusion and the intended use of the water that is being contaminated. The contaminated water can be desalinated to remove the salt from it. The Desalinated water can be then reinjected into the aquifer to maintain a high freshwater table. The increased demand for freshwater is fostering the technologies needed to treat the saltwater. Infrastructures can be built to prevent salt water from moving into freshwater areas. However, these systems are not always adequate to prevent

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