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 Vivien Rudorfer
Faculty of Science, Quaternary Earth and Water Systems
Thesis Title: Groundwater flow model of the Logan River alluvial aquifer system, at Josephville, southeast Queensland.
Current Thesis Abstract: Agricultural and industrial practices are major users of freshwater supplies withdrawing significant amounts from the groundwater. Wastewater from these processes, often including significant amounts of chemicals, inevitably finds its way back to the surface and groundwater sources. Developing a conceptual understanding of the hydrological pathways provided in groundwater systems is an important first step in monitoring the pollution of water and can be followed up with a groundwater flow model that is able to determine the migration path of contaminants.
The project being undertaken will focus on a groundwater study of the 171 hectare site of a gelatine factory on the Gelita Property at Josephville via Beaudesert. The site area is a small catchment formed from the deposition of Quaternary alluvial sediments into a bedrock basin, comprising Walloon sandstone overlain in part by an extrusive basalt flow, which probably acts as a hydrological entity. The plant draws water from the Logan River for its production processes and produces approximately 1.5 ML per day of wastewater containing high levels of nitrogen, sodium, calcium and sulphate. At present a series of treatment ponds are used to aerate the waste water reducing the level of organic matter; the water is then used to irrigate grazing land around the site.
This study involves the development of a hydrogeological groundwater model comprising four key stages:
(1) development of a hydrogeological conceptual model,
(2) development of a numerical simulation model,
(3) numerical model calibration,
(4) sensitivity analysis.
Considering the immediate proximity of the Logan River , water quality issues are a major factor for this industrial site and t he groundwater flow model will provide a means of understanding the transport and removal of contaminants that are by-products of this industry. A well calibrated model will provide a useful management tool for the environmental manager of this company.
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