Numerical Modeling of Contaminant Transport Through Unsaturated Soil Beneath Industrial Waste Storage Ponds

Abstract

Contaminant migration from industrial waste storage ponds poses significant risks to soil and groundwater quality due to the potential infiltration of hazardous chemicals through unsaturated subsurface layers. This study presents a numerical modeling approach for analyzing contaminant transport through unsaturated soil beneath industrial waste storage ponds under varying environmental and hydrogeological conditions. The proposed framework integrates fluid flow dynamics, solute transport equations, and unsaturated soil mechanics to evaluate the movement, dispersion, and retention behavior of contaminants within the vadose zone. A comprehensive numerical investigation was conducted to assess the influence of soil permeability, porosity, moisture content, hydraulic conductivity, contaminant concentration, and infiltration rate on contaminant migration patterns and transport efficiency. Finite element and computational modeling techniques were employed to simulate transient flow behavior, contaminant diffusion, adsorption mechanisms, and vertical migration through multilayer soil systems. Results demonstrated that soil hydraulic properties and moisture distribution significantly affect contaminant transport velocity and pollutant dispersion within unsaturated zones. The study further revealed that low-permeability soil layers and adsorption processes contribute to delayed contaminant migration and reduced groundwater contamination potential. Comparative analysis indicated that increased infiltration rates and prolonged waste exposure substantially enhance contaminant penetration depth and transport risk beneath industrial storage facilities.