Assessment and modeling of groundwater flow and nitrate contamination within coastal karst aquifer of Puerto Rico

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20263266

Karst aquifers, capable of store and transmit large amount of water, are the main source of drinking water in many regions worldwide. Their excessive permeability leads to enhanced vulnerability to contamination accordingly. In the first section of this study, a comprehensive overview of hydrological processes and concepts, assessment methods and governing equations regarding groundwater flow and contaminant transport in karst aquifers is presented. Moreover, surface water and groundwater interaction and recent groundwater remediation techniques in karst terrains are discussed. Due to the complexity of karst aquifers, different approaches are developed by researchers for investigating and predicting karst processes and groundwater behavior. Modeling techniques are among the most beneficial and powerful methods for assessing groundwater flow and contaminant transport in karst aquifers, as hydrogeological systems with complicated and unpredictable behavior. Hence, several modeling approaches, are reviewed and assessed. Moreover, associated research works conducted for northern Puerto Rico are discussed to complement ongoing hydrogeologic investigations in this island.