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Integrated methods and scenario development for urban groundwater management and protection during tunnel road construction: a case study of urban hydrogeology in the city of Basel, Switzerland

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Abstract

In the northwestern area of Basel, Switzerland, a tunnel highway connects the French highway A35 (Mulhouse–Basel) with the Swiss A2 (Basel–Gotthard–Milano). The subsurface highway construction was associated with significant impacts on the urban groundwater system. Parts of this area were formerly contaminated by industrial wastes, and groundwater resources are extensively used by industry. During some construction phases, considerable groundwater drawdown was necessary, leading to major changes in the groundwater flow regime. Sufficient groundwater supply for industrial users and possible groundwater pollution due to interactions with contaminated areas had to be taken into account. A groundwater management system is presented, comprising extensive groundwater monitoring, high-resolution numerical groundwater modeling, and the development and evaluation of different scenarios. This integrated approach facilitated the evaluation of the sum of impacts, and their interaction in time and space with changing hydrological boundary conditions. For all project phases, changes of the groundwater system had to be evaluated in terms of the various goals and requirements. Although the results of this study are case-specific, the overall conceptual approach and methodologies applied may be directly transferred to other urban areas.

Résumé

Au nord-ouest de Bâle, en Suisse, un tunnel-autoroutier connecte l’autoroute française A35 (Mulhouse-Bâle) avec l’autoroute suisse A2 (Bâle-Gotthard-Milan). La construction de la chaussée a été associée à des impacts significatifs sur le système urbain d’eau souterraine. Des parties de la zone avaient été auparavant contaminées par des déchets industriels, et les ressources en eau souterraine sont intensivement utilisées par l’industrie. Durant certaines phases de la construction, un rabattement très important a été nécessaire, conduisant à des changements importants du régime d’écoulement de l’eau souterraine. Une alimentation suffisante en eau souterraine pour les industriels et une pollution possible de l’eau souterraine du fait d’interactions avec des zones contaminées ont du être pris en compte.Un système de gestion de l’eau souterraine est présenté, comprenant un système étendu de surveillance de l’eau souterraine, un modèle hydrogéologique de haute résolution, et le développement et l’évaluation de différents scénarios. Cette approche intégrée a aidé à évaluer l’ensemble des impacts, et leur interaction dans le temps et l’espace avec les variations des conditions hydrologiques aux limites. Pour toutes les phases du projet, les changements du système eau souterraine ont du être évalués, au regard des divers buts et nécessités. Bien que les résultats de cette étude sont spécifiques à ce projet, l’approche conceptuelle globale et les méthodes appliquées pourraient être transférées directement à d’autres zones urbaines.

Resumen

En el área del noroeste de Basilea, Suiza, un túnel de carretera conecta la carretera francesa A35 (Mulhouse–Basilea) con la A2 suiza (Basilea–Gotthard–Milano). La construcción subsuperficial de la carretera estuvo ligada con impactos significativos sobre el sistema de agua subterránea urbano. Algunas partes de esta área fueron contaminadas anteriormente por desechos industriales, y los recursos de agua subterránea son usados ampliamente por la industria. Durante algunas fases de la construcción fue necesario crear abatimientos considerables del agua subterránea, generando cambios mayores en el régimen del flujo del agua subterránea. Debieron ser tenidos en cuenta tanto un abastecimiento suficiente con agua subterránea para los usuarios industriales, como también la posible contaminación del agua subterránea debido a las interacciones con las áreas contaminadas. Se presenta un sistema de gestión de agua subterránea, incluyendo un monitoreo extenso de esta misma, modelamiento numérico de resolución alta para el agua subterránea, y el desarrollo y evaluación de escenarios diferentes. Este acercamiento integrado facilitó la evaluación del total de impactos, y de su interacción en el tiempo y espacio con las condiciones cambiantes en los límites hidrológicos. Para todas las fases del proyecto, los cambios del sistema del agua subterránea tuvieron que ser evaluados en términos de las metas y requisitos variados. Aunque los resultados de este estudio son específicos del caso, pueden transferirse directamente a otras áreas urbanas, tanto el acercamiento conceptual global, como las metodologías aplicadas.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Manfred Epting and Eric Barnsley for reviewing the manuscript as well as the editors and two anonymous reviewers who provided valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied and Environmental Geology Group, Department of Environmental Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 38, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    J. Epting & P. Huggenberger

  2. Ernst Basler + Partner AG, Zollikerstrasse 65, 8702, Zollikon, Switzerland

    M. Rauber

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  1. J. Epting
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  2. P. Huggenberger
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  3. M. Rauber
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Correspondence to J. Epting.

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Epting, J., Huggenberger, P. & Rauber, M. Integrated methods and scenario development for urban groundwater management and protection during tunnel road construction: a case study of urban hydrogeology in the city of Basel, Switzerland. Hydrogeol J 16, 575–591 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0242-5

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