Simulation of Groundwater Flow in an Aquiclude for Designing a Drainage System during Urban Construction: A Case Study in Madrid, Spain

A detailed hydrogeological study was carried out due to the recent occurrence of unexpected problems associated with the flooding of the water table during excavations in the area of a major urbanization work in Madrid. The numerous exploratory drilling excavations carried out allowed for the develo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSustainability Vol. 13; no. 3; p. 1526
Main Authors Sanz de Ojeda, Joaquín, Sanz, Eugenio, Elorza, Francisco Javier, Riaguas, Cesar Sanz, Liaño, Manuel de Pazos
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2021
Subjects
Clay
Construction
Drainage patterns
Drainage systems
Drilling
Environmental monitoring
Excavation
Exploratory drilling
Flooding
Geology
Groundwater
Groundwater flow
Groundwater quality
Gypsum
Hydrogeology
Hydrology
Infrastructure
Natural recharge
Permeability
Simulation
Stratigraphy
Sustainability
Trenches
Urban areas
Urban planning
Urbanization
Water flow
Water pollution
Water quality
Water table
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Summary:A detailed hydrogeological study was carried out due to the recent occurrence of unexpected problems associated with the flooding of the water table during excavations in the area of a major urbanization work in Madrid. The numerous exploratory drilling excavations carried out allowed for the development of a conceptual model of the complex hydrogeological functioning in clay formations in an urban area. The clays have very little natural recharge, and the underground flow is highly conditioned by the topography and a fold-fault. Modelling with MODDFLOW confirmed and quantified this conceptual model and also allowed for the design of an efficient network of 1.5 km-long drainage trenches. The design of this drainage network was influenced by the difficult balance that must be respected in order not to contaminate the water with sulphates from the nearby gypsum substrate. This is to guarantee the quantitative and qualitative sustainability of the groundwater. The follow-up and monitoring of the water tables and the quality of the groundwater for more than a year after the excavation of the drainage trenches guaranteed the results of the research.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su13031526