Quantifying the impacts of coupled physical and bio-geochemical processes on metal transport in groundwater

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Throughout Canada and globally groundwater resources are under continuous threat from industry and other anthropogenic activities. The protection of this resource is vital for the health of humans and ecosystems, and economic security. Canada's economy relies heavily on the resource sector, but these activities, due to their nature and scale have significant impact on the environment. For example, mining operations, including mineral and petroleum resources, generate waste products that have potential to leach contaminant, and particularly toxic metals, into the environment. The transport and fate of contaminants in groundwater and in soils often involve complex biogeochemical reactions coupled to physical transport and attenuation processes. The objectives of this research program are to better understand and quantify these coupled biogeochemical and physical processes, to determine the effect of this coupling on the fate of metals in groundwater and subsurface systems, and to evaluate the impact on mitigation and remediation strategies. These objectives will be carried out through extensive detailed laboratory experiments and analysis of data collected from large-scale field projects, coupled with the development and implementation of numerical models to understand the controlling physical and geochemical processes. The proposed research will provide new insights into how contaminants move near largescale industrial activities, particularly the movement of metals around both mineral and oil sands mining sites. These new insights will help industry and government to implement more effective policies and practices to better protect the environment and reduce the cost associated with remediation and mitigation. The research will provide training to highly qualified personnel in the area of mine waste management and industrial contaminant remediation allowing them to become leaders in the field and allowing them to continue research or take up important roles within industry, government or within Canada's world leading environmental consulting industry.