1 Advances in Managed Aquifer Recharge

This session will present an interdisciplinary overview of the hydrological, geochemical, and geobiological processes and interactions associated with the practical implementation and operation of managed aquifer recharge strategies.

Sunday, 19 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 209

How does Non-target Analysis help to improve Water Management at two Bank Filtration Sites at the River Rhine, Germany?

Paper number: 1-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:40 AM – 10:55 AM

Authors

Abstract

Bank filtration sites at the river Rhine, in this case namely “Flehe” and “Auf dem Grind” near Düsseldorf / Germany / Europe, are in operation for several decades. Lately, prolonged low and high water levels of river Rhine call for new and improved water management. We present results on non-target analysis and selected trace organic compounds and how they may be used to improve water management at those bank filtration sites. The bank filtration site at “Flehe” has an urban influence, whereas “Grind” has some influence from agricultural activities.

Hydraulic and hydrochemical measurements were carried out over a period of several years across a study transect on the Rhine riverbanks with up to 30 monitoring wells and the river Rhine itself. Various inorganic and organic compounds, among those fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals are monitored. Generally, concentrations of the compounds decrease with increasing distance to the river Rhine. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to analyse the non-target analysis, and the results are presented for four sampling dates in 2024 for various locations at the Grind and Flehe sites. Land use (agriculture, urban, river water) had a significant impact on clustering for samples on the Grind. At the Flehe site this correlation was not as clear as for the grind site. The impact of floods in the Rhine on the groundwater composition was evaluated using both chemical, hot target and non-target analysis. It was possible to calculate the amount of bank filtrate in the individual supply wells based on indicator compounds. These observations are crucial for the subsequent water management during different water levels of the river Rhine.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-412748

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