Solute dispersion along unsteady groundwater flow in a semi-infinite aquifer

Abstract. Analytical and numerical solutions are obtained for dispersion of pollutants along unsteady groundwater flow in a longitudinal direction through semi-infinite aquifers the permeability of which is either uniform or varies with position. Sources of pollution are both a concentrated point input at the origin and a spatially distributed background source. One expression chosen to represent the seasonal pattern of the time dependent velocity is sinusoidal behaviour over a year. The solutions obtained predict the time and distance from the location at which an input concentration is introduced at which the pollution concentration becomes harmless. Also, the time period for rehabilitating a polluted aquifer for human use can also be assessed.