method, which masks many pollution details and problems, so it cannot be called
the groundwater pollution risk assessment in the true sense.
4.2.2 Assessment of Specific Vulnerability
The specific vulnerability of groundwater characterizes the impact on the natural
groundwater flow field brought by pollution sources associated with human
activities and the development of land resources. It is a dynamic and controllable
manifestation of the sensitivity of groundwater to external disturbance. The magnitude of specific vulnerability is jointly determined by the types and scale of
pollution sources and the rules of migration and transformation of pollutants in the
groundwater environment. The assessment of specific vulnerability gives quantitative scores to such indicators as external pollution sources and land use types, and
the weighted results are superimposed with the final assessment results for intrinsic
vulnerability. The assessment of specific vulnerability stems from the study of
intrinsic vulnerability and serves as an important part of groundwater pollution risk
assessment in the transition phase. Table 4.4 describes several methods for risk
assessment of pollution load sources.
4.2.3 Identification of External Pollutant Types and Hazard
Levels
External pollutant types and hazard levels can be identified in qualitative and
quantitative manner based on the research on type, distribution, load and migration
of pollution sources. Risk sources can be evaluated and graded by establishing a
quantitative system of characteristic pollutants and their emissions or a multi-factor
coupled risk source identification model.
4.2.4 Groundwater Value/Function Evaluation
The damage associated with risk of contamination to the groundwater system can
be characterized by changes in groundwater value/functions. There are many
methods for groundwater value/function evaluation, but the majority quantify
groundwater value/function, broadly in the following two ways:
(1) Evaluation based on groundwater quality and groundwater storage. The
equation for calculation is written as follows:
84
4 Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination Sites
the groundwater pollution risk assessment in the true sense.
4.2.2 Assessment of Specific Vulnerability
The specific vulnerability of groundwater characterizes the impact on the natural
groundwater flow field brought by pollution sources associated with human
activities and the development of land resources. It is a dynamic and controllable
manifestation of the sensitivity of groundwater to external disturbance. The magnitude of specific vulnerability is jointly determined by the types and scale of
pollution sources and the rules of migration and transformation of pollutants in the
groundwater environment. The assessment of specific vulnerability gives quantitative scores to such indicators as external pollution sources and land use types, and
the weighted results are superimposed with the final assessment results for intrinsic
vulnerability. The assessment of specific vulnerability stems from the study of
intrinsic vulnerability and serves as an important part of groundwater pollution risk
assessment in the transition phase. Table 4.4 describes several methods for risk
assessment of pollution load sources.
4.2.3 Identification of External Pollutant Types and Hazard
Levels
External pollutant types and hazard levels can be identified in qualitative and
quantitative manner based on the research on type, distribution, load and migration
of pollution sources. Risk sources can be evaluated and graded by establishing a
quantitative system of characteristic pollutants and their emissions or a multi-factor
coupled risk source identification model.
4.2.4 Groundwater Value/Function Evaluation
The damage associated with risk of contamination to the groundwater system can
be characterized by changes in groundwater value/functions. There are many
methods for groundwater value/function evaluation, but the majority quantify
groundwater value/function, broadly in the following two ways:
(1) Evaluation based on groundwater quality and groundwater storage. The
equation for calculation is written as follows:
84
4 Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination Sites