What is a contamination plume?

A contamination plume refers to a concentration of dissolved contaminants that spreads through groundwater. This phenomenon occurs when pollutants infiltrate the groundwater system, typically resulting from activities such as industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, or leaking underground storage tanks. The movement of these contaminants can be traced over time, creating a plume that can be detected and monitored using various hydrological techniques.

The characteristics of the contamination plume are essential in understanding how and where contaminants may migrate, which is critical for remediation efforts and public health safeguarding. By recognizing the nature of a contamination plume, environmental scientists and engineers can devise effective strategies to contain or eliminate the contaminants from the groundwater supply.

Understanding this definition helps differentiate it from other concepts, such as aquifer recharge methods, geological formations for water storage, or barriers to groundwater flow, which do not specifically pertain to the movement and concentration of contaminants within groundwater.