Articles | Volume 30, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-877-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-877-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Feb 2026
Research article |
| 13 Feb 2026
| 13 Feb 2026
Mapping water content dynamics in SAT systems using 3D electrical tomography
Lurdes Martinez-Landa
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
Jesús Carrera
Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
Geosciences department, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Research Council (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
Juan José Ledo
Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, Faculty of Physics, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Perla Piña-Varas
Geomodels-UB Research Institute, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Paola Sepúlveda-Ruiz
Biology, Sanitation and Environmental Department, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Montserrat Folch
Biology, Sanitation and Environmental Department, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Hydrogeology Group (UPC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
Geosciences department, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Research Council (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
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Short summary
This paper explores how recharge strategies and the reactive barrier affect water infiltration, retention, and biofilm dinamics in a pilot-scale Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) system. We combine Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) imaging with field measurements (water content, temperature, oxygen) in the unsaturated zone, to link to biofilm and plant dynamics. This integrated approach provides insights into balancing microbial treatment benefits with hydrogeological impacts and system longevity.
This paper explores how recharge strategies and the reactive barrier affect water infiltration,...
