ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to test different modelling approaches and the reliability of the codes used in water pollution risk assessment for a site contaminated by chlorinated solvents. The final goal is to establish, within the framework of the TRANSPOL research programme, guidelines that may be used as scientific support for contaminated aquifer management. The models developed by four teams (ANTEA, ENSMP, ENVIROS and INERIS) to simulate contamination of groundwater by perchloroethene were compared (calibrated results, methodology, hypotheses …) to each other. The total amount of perchloroethene discharged into the aquifer was unknown and a simplified conceptual model was considered. An initial synthesis of the results shows two main difficulties regarding the estimate of source concentration and the simulation of natural attenuation phenomena (sorption/degradation). A more accurate diagnosis is needed in order to reduce the uncertainties of the model parameters.