Groundwater Quality

We are involved in several major research programmes concerning groundwater contamination.  The emphasis is on nitrate leached from agricultural and horticultural land use.

 

The research involves catchment studies, vadose zone field experiments, artificial aquifer laboratory, as well as mathematical models and software development for whole-farm nitrate discharge and regional-scale groundwater nitrate transport to surface waters.

 

List of Projects:

 

- Hillslope hydrology (Pukemanga)
- Vadose zone nitrogen transformations (Taupo, Toenepi)
- Nitrate transport and transformations
- FarmSim nitrate discharge model
- AquiferSim groundwater nitrate model

 

Publications:

 

Stenger, R., Barkle, G., Wall, A., and Clague, J.  (2007) Low groundwater N contamination in spite of high land use intensity – the Toenepi dairying catchment experience.  In Designing sustainable farm: Critical aspects of soil and water management (Eds L.D. Curry and L.J. Yates). Occasional Report No.20.  Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. pp 86-94.

 

Wang, F., Bright, J., and Hadfield, J. (2003) Simulating nitrate transport in an alluvial aquifer: a three-dimensional N-dynamics model, Journal of Hydrology (New Zealand) 42(2): 145-162.


Wang, F., and Bright, J. (2004) Scale effect and calibration of contaminant transport models, Ground Water 42(5): 760-766.


Di, H.J., Cameron, K.C., Bidwell, V.J., Morgan, M.J., and Hanson, C. (2005) A pilot regional scale model of land use impacts on groundwater quality.  Management of Environment Quality: An International Journal 16(3):220-234.


Bidwell, V.J. (2005) Groundwater recharge interface and nitrate discharge: Central Canterbury, New Zealand.  In Acworth, RI; Macky, G and NP Merrick (eds.) Proceedings of the NZHS-IAH-NZSSS 2005 Conference “Where Waters Meet”, Auckland, 28 November - 2 December 2005, Paper I17.  ISBN 0-473-10627-2.


Bidwell, V.J., Lilburne., and Good, J.M. (2005) Strategy for developing GIS-based tools for management of the effects on groundwater of nitrate leaching from agricultural land use.  In Zerger, A. and Argent, R.M. (eds) MODSIM 2005 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, December 2005.  pp.1354‑1360.  ISBN 0-9758400-2-9.

 

Stenger, R., Barkle, G., Bidwell, V., Burgess, C., Wall, A., Haas, M. and Mertens, J. (2005) From the Paddock to the Stream – Unravelling the Nitrogen Flowpaths in a New Zealand Dairying Catchment. Proceedings of of the 2005 Watershed Management Conference ‘Managing Watersheds for Human and Natural Impacts: Engineering, Ecological, and Economic Challenges’ (19-22 July 2005), Williamsburg, Virginia. 10pp. (Editor Glenn E. Moglen), Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers.