ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Damaged sewers allow wastewater to infiltrate into the unsaturated zone, which increases the risk for groundwater contamination. This study examines different scenarios of wastewater infiltration into soils pertaining to the impact on urban groundwater resources. A numerical model WTM (Water Transport Model), is applied to simulate various infiltration conditions and hydraulic soil parameters, using soil types assumed to follow the van Genuchten model of soil characteristic functions. The results show that the hydraulic soil parameters together with the high infiltration rate have a significant influence on the seepage flow in relation to plume development and arrival times of contaminants to the water table.
