Effect of riverbed sediment flushing and clogging on river-water infiltration rate: a case study in the Second Songhua River, Northeast China

Infiltration from natural rivers or streams is the most important source of aquifer recharge at riverbank filtration (RBF) sites. Due to the influence of river hydrological processes and changes in suspended solids in rivers, riverbed sediments often undergo significant flushing and clogging processes, which lead to obvious spatial and temporal changes in riverbed sediment permeability. Moreover, the lithology, structure, and thickness of natural riverbed sediments change with time, influencing the bank infiltration rate into groundwater. At present, how riverbed-sediment flushing and clogging influences the sediment hydraulic conductivity is not fully understood, which results in high uncertainty about the amount of water involved in RBF. An RBF site in the middle reach of the Second Songhua River, northeastern China, was studied, and continuous time series data of riverbed-sediment hydraulic conductivity were obtained for the first time. By identifying the hydrological conditions, using field monitoring, laboratory experiments and field tests, the mechanisms of change associated with sediment lithology, infiltration rate, and hydraulic conductivity during flushing and clogging processes were revealed.

Automated summary

The study investigates the impact of hydrological conditions at riverbank filtration sites on the hydraulic conductivity of riverbed sediments. It reveals that changes in suspended solids in rivers can influence the permeability of riverbed sediments, leading to fluctuations in infiltration rates into groundwater.