Stefan Scheidler

Publications (3)1.78 Total impact

• Chapter: Hypotheses and Concepts

  Peter Huggenberger, Jannis Epting, Annette Affolter, Christoph Butscher, Stefan Scheidler, Jelena Simovic Rota
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  ABSTRACT: Within this chapter, we present and discuss several hypotheses and some concepts which we consider as important for urban geology. The first section deals with adaptive subsurface and groundwater resource management in urban areas with a focus on the definition of “system and risk profiles.” The second section discusses the importance and role of “flow across boundaries.” The third section describes an approach for the assessment of “vulnerability” of urban groundwater resources and includes a discussion on how to define “quality control systems.” In the last section, we discuss impacts of anthropogenic and climate change to quantitative and qualitative aspects of groundwater resources in the city Basel. The taken measures that are addressed in the concepts are directed towards a better understanding of urban subsurface systems in order to improve the base for future decisions. They can be used as an asset framework or tool for subsurface planning in the evaluation of individual projects as well as for optimization of subsurface resource management in urban areas.
  08/2011: pages 15-51;
• Article: Validation of a numerical indicator of microbial contamination for karst springs.

  Christoph Butscher, Adrian Auckenthaler, Stefan Scheidler, Peter Huggenberger
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  ABSTRACT: Rapid changes in spring water quality in karst areas due to rapid recharge of bacterially contaminated water are a major concern for drinking water suppliers and users. The main objective of this study was to use field experiments with fecal indicators to verify the vulnerability of a karst spring to pathogens, as determined by using a numerical modeling approach. The groundwater modeling was based on linear storage models that can be used to simulate karst water flow. The vulnerability of the karst groundwater is estimated using such models to calculate criteria that influence the likelihood of spring water being affected by microbial contamination. Specifically, the temporal variation in the vulnerability, depending on rainfall events and overall recharge conditions, can be assessed and quantified using the dynamic vulnerability index (DVI). DVI corresponds to the ratio of conduit to diffuse flow contributions to spring discharge. To evaluate model performance with respect to predicted vulnerability, samples from a spring were analyzed for Escherichia coli, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, and heterotrophic plate count bacteria during and after several rainfall events. DVI was shown to be an indication of the risk of fecal contamination of spring water with sufficient accuracy to be used in drinking water management. We conclude that numerical models are a useful tool for evaluating the vulnerability of karst systems to pathogens under varying recharge conditions.
  Ground Water 02/2010; 49(1):66-76. · 1.78 Impact Factor
• Chapter: Examples and Case Studies

  Peter Huggenberger, Jannis Epting, Annette Affolter, Christoph Butscher, Donat Fäh, Daniel Gechter, Markus Konz, Rebecca M. Page, Christian Regli, Douchko Romanov, Stefan Scheidler, Eric Zechner, Ali Zidane
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  ABSTRACT: The presented examples and case studies illustrate specific applications of adaptive management of water resources in the region of Basel, Northwestern Switzerland. Such concepts together with the setup of tools and process-oriented experiments allow testing hypotheses. The applied methods facilitated us to fill several gaps of knowledge of subsurface processes. The examples focus on questions with practical as well as research. Most topics are relevant for urban areas and the sustainable use of subsurface resources in general. The case studies we address, include (1) protection issues of groundwater production and river restoration in urban areas, with a focus on drinking water supply aspects; (2) engineering and hydrogeological questions that emerged during the development of urban infrastructure projects in the region of Basel; (3) management concepts as well as monitoring, modeling, and remediation strategies for contaminant sites in transboundary settings; (4) Karst in urban environments; (5) the use of shallow geothermal energy in urban environments; and (6) natural hazards in a regional context, including major flood events and flood protection measures as well as earthquakes and earthquake hazard reduction.
  01/1970: pages 95-191;