Development of a conceptual hydrogeological model for the evaluation of residence times of water in soil and groundwater: the state of Hesse case study, Germany

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 67; no. 8; pp. 2239 - 2250
• Main Authors: Herrmann, Frank, Berthold, Georg, Fritsche, Johann-Gerhard, Kunkel, Ralf, Voigt, Hans-Jürgen, Wendland, Frank
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2012
• Subjects: Biogeosciences; case studies; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental Science and Engineering; European Union; Geochemistry; Geology; groundwater; Hydrology/Water Resources; Original Article; soil water; surface water; Terrestrial Pollution; water quality; Germany; Conceptual hydrogeological model; Groundwater protection; Unsaturated zone; Groundwater; Water residence times; EU Water Framework Directive
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-012-1665-4

A regional conceptual hydrogeological model has been developed for evaluating residence times of both, percolate water in the unsaturated zone and groundwater in upper aquifers. The model is based on digitally geo-data bases available at the regional level and has been applied for the entire Federal State of Hesse (Germany) with a spatial resolution of 60 × 60 m. Residence times determined for unconsolidated rock areas typically ranged between 10 and 25 years, whereas residence times of <5 years were assessed for consolidated rock areas. With regard to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, the determined residence times may help to assess the time periods between the introduction of well-targeted groundwater protection measures and their impact on groundwater and surface water quality, respectively.