Maintenance of riparian health is a vital problem due to rising contaminant levels in the rivers and subsequent ecological degradation. I suppose that the hyporheic zone plays a vital role in decontaminating the polluted water as it percolates into the ground whereby it get diluted by mixing up with the sub-surface water.
This mixing environment provide gradients in pH and redox conditions whereby the reactivity and mobility of metals (contaminants) are affected. Moreover, the interstitial space among the sediment grains (mostly sand) present a plugged-flow reactor system for biological oxidation of organics present in the percolating water. The biofilm that develop over the surface of the grains might have tremendous potential in decontaminating the percolating water.
Apart from this, the geochemical interactions occurring within this zone might be distinct. The gradients in pH and redox conditions might produce layers of metal enrichment and authigenic mineral formation. The geochemical reactions occurring within this microenvironment is distinct from the bulk solution, and nano-geochemistry may play a vital role. Would like to know any direct or relevant work carried out in this direction.
The hyporheic zone is a region beneath and alongside a stream bed, where there is mixing of shallow groundwater and surface water. It serves as the area where contaminants predominate. One needs to carry out the hydrodynamics and geochemical structure of the area of contamination. It is also required that the boundaries of the zone be established in terms of measurement in concrete values. This can bring out the volume estimates of the contaminants and could give a guide on the measure(s) and/rate of decontamination of the zone with appropriate tools. Certain phenomena like mass transfer, advection, dispersion and perhaps convective equations/correlations might be of help after establishing boundary conditions. In summary it enhances to determine not only the method of decontamination, but also the rate of pollutant removal from the area.
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