Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-4-2025
Journal / Book Title
Hydrology
Abstract
This study investigates the transport of chloride, a conservative tracer and surrogate for contaminants, in the fractured Brunswick aquifer of northern New Jersey using a dual-porosity MODFLOW-MT3DMS model. Focusing on the First Watchung Mountain region—a microcosm of northern New Jersey’s hydrogeological environment encompassing Montclair State University and adjoining communities, the numerical model simulates groundwater flow and solute transport in a hydrogeologically complex, urbanized setting. Results indicate that chloride migrates through the fractured aquifer via both local flow systems (e.g., Third River) and regional flow systems (Passaic River) within decades. Chloride concentrations exceeded the EPA’s 250 mg/L threshold much faster in local discharge streams (5 years in the Third River) compared to regional base-level rivers (79 years in the Passaic River), demonstrating rapid fracture transport versus delayed matrix diffusion. Over 450 years, chlorides traveled approximately 7000 m, demonstrating potential for widespread salinization and contamination. The study also highlights “salting-out” effects, where elevated salinity enhances contaminant retention and complicates remediation efforts in fractured aquifers. These findings emphasize the need for integrated water management strategies, targeted deicing salt reduction, stormwater management, and recharge-zone protection, to mitigate long-term risks in fractured aquifers. By quantifying dual-domain dynamics previously unaddressed in the Brunswick aquifer, this work provides a framework for contaminant transport modeling and management in similar urbanized fractured systems.
DOI
10.3390/hydrology12110293
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Oyen, Toritseju and Ophori, Duke, "Exploiting Chloride Conservative Tendencies as Contaminant Surrogates in Groundwater Transport Modeling in a Typical Hydrogeological Environment of Northern New Jersey" (2025). Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 794.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/earth-environ-studies-facpubs/794
Published Citation
Oyen, T., & Ophori, D. (2025). Exploiting Chloride Conservative Tendencies as Contaminant Surrogates in Groundwater Transport Modeling in a Typical Hydrogeological Environment of Northern New Jersey. Hydrology, 12(11), 293. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12110293
Comments
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).