Sinkholes: A Direct and Rapid Conduit for Surface Water to Groundwater The Importance of Sinkholes to Groundwater Sanitation in Karst Environments - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Sinkholes: A Direct and Rapid Conduit for Surface Water to Groundwater The Importance of Sinkholes to Groundwater Sanitation in Karst Environments

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Title: Sinkholes: A Direct and Rapid Conduit for Surface Water to Groundwater The Importance of Sinkholes to Groundwater Sanitation in Karst Environments


1
Sinkholes A Direct and Rapid Conduit for Surface
Water to Groundwater The Importance of Sinkholes
to Groundwater Sanitation in Karst Environments
  • BY Chris Roth

2
Purpose
  • To show the importance of sinkholes
  • Review methods of study
  • Review possible solutions for sinkhole
    contamination

3
Why Care?
  • Protect the planet
  • 25 of earths water is from karst aquifers
  • 10-15 of earth is classified as karst
  • Land usage planning

Image from State of Florida Hydrology Department
4
What is a Sinkhole
  • natural depressions formed by the removal of
    subsurface soil and rock
  • Like a funnel
  • Common in karst areas soft limestone bedrock

Photo by D. Buffington
5
Image from State of Florida Hydrology Department
6
Sinkhole Effects(lack of filtration)
No sinkhole
  • Direct route for surface water to ground water
  • Little if any natural filtering
  • Fast spreading mechanism

With a sinkhole
Images from University of Florida Hydrology
Department
7
Sinkhole Effects(spreading mechanism)
  • Tracer testing showed spreading of 1-3 miles
    within a few hours
  • The same study was done in a non-karst landscape
    and showed spreading of under 1 mile within half
    a day.

8
Groundwater Sensitivity
  • vulnerability of groundwater to contamination
  • Taditional rock type and water table elevations
  • Karst traditional Sinkhole distribution

Image provided by BGSU graduate student Ryan
Dickerson
9
Sinkhole Distribution MappingMan vs. GIS
  • Man handcount as compared to past maps of
    sinkhole distribution
  • GIS (Geographic information systems) can be set
    to automatically count sinkholes based on
    specific parameters of what constitutes a
    sinkhole
  • While a GIS program takes longer to create, once
    created counts can be done in a quarter of the
    time it takes to manually count.

10
GIS problems
  • Conversion errors - vector to raster
  • Simplification errors the zoom effect
  • Fake peaks and dips
  • Satellite imaging errors

11
Map created by Dr. Chris Parker
12
Solutions to Sinkhole Contamination(Sinkhole
Filter)
  • concrete plug, perforated PVC pipe wrapped in
    filter fabric extending through the plug,
    crushed rock to fill in, then soil and grass cover
  • In one study fecal caliform was reduced up to 96
  • Sediment related contaminants (phosphorus and
    some pesticides)
  • NOT FOR SOLUBALE CONTAMINANTS

Picture from AFSRC
13
Solutions to Sinkhole Contamination(Nutrient
Management)
  • Common
  • First, sample and test water
  • Then, chemically treating imbalances of
    contaminants in the water

Photo from US Water Quality Department
14
Conclusion
  • Sinkholes must be understood
  • allows for contaminants to rapidly enter and
    spread throughout the groundwater
  • 3D GIS may help create better hydrologic models
    and increase understanding
  • Steps must be taken to preserve out Groundwater
  • Filters, nutrient management, and good
    conservation efforts

15
Image from New York Times Occurred in
Daisetta, Tex. May 8, 2008
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