The objective of IMDEA Agua is to obtain a better comprehension of the processes affecting contaminants in groundwater. Reactive transport modeling is an useful tool for the understanding and description of the movement and fate of contaminants as solutes in groundwater. The application of numerical models to field site and laboratory experiments allow the investigation of the contaminant transport under the influence of a variety of interacting processes, including advection, dispersion and chemical reactions.

Read more about this project in the article published in the Weblog "Water": Reactive Transport Model for investigating contamination problems (Raffaella Meffe, researcher at IMDEA Water).

Scientific & technical offer: Water resources and contaminant transport modelling

Scientific & technical offer: Laboratory techniques for contaminant transport assessment

The ressearch activities consist of determining the occurrence, behaviour and evolution of emerging contaminants (pharmaceutical products, personal care products and nanomaterials) in superficial and groundwater, and to establish relationships between landuse and emergent contaminants apparition in groundwater.

The environmental and health risks of nanotechnology and nanomaterials are still not well known, and even less in water than in the air. The reason is the lack of data on the evaluation, behaviour and transformation of these materials. It is necessary, now that there is still time, to carry out extensive research work to determine the risks of nanomaterials and the use of nanotechnology. The knowledge of the environmental behaviour of these substances will allow finding ways to reduce these risks.

The overall aim of this project, entitled NANOAQUAL, is to gain knowledge, for materials representing different families, on their behaviour in water, mobility and final destination, as well as the suitable techniques for their neutralisation and/or removal. Therefore, we will be able to tackle the problems that will be generated when, in a not too distant future, production and massive use of nanomaterials lead to concentrations of these products in water that could cause concern.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (CNRCOP) are chemicals that have certain toxic properties and, unlike other pollutants, are resistant to degradation, making them especially harmful to human health and environment. COPs bioaccumulate, are transported by air, water and migratory species and build up in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. As this is a cross-border issue, it is therefore Essentials to take measures on an international level.