Coastal waste site groundwater ages reveal seasonal contamination risks.
Groundwater flow paths and ages were studied at a radioactive waste site in South Korea using water samples and computer models. The groundwater in the area is about 34 years old and comes from 140-230 meters away. Rainwater recharges the groundwater in summer, while it discharges in winter. The amount of dissolved SiO2 in the water increases as the groundwater ages, showing natural mineralization changes with the seasons.