Technical note: Extending the SWAT model to transport chemicals through tile and groundwater flow

Abstract

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is frequently used to simulate the transport of water-soluble chemicals in the environment such as pesticides and their metabolites originating from agricultural applications. However, the model does not simulate the transport of chemicals through subsurface tile drains and groundwater. This limitation is particularly significant in lowland regions and when simulating stable chemicals that can leach into and accumulate in groundwater. To fill this gap, the publicly available SWAT code was modified to complement the simulation of chemicals by adding transport capabilities through tile and groundwater flow. The extended model was tested in two agricultural catchments with a typically used pesticide and one of its metabolites. Results show that the transport of the pesticide is mainly governed by surface runoff and that shallow surface tile flow contributions can be significant. Metabolite concentrations in streamflow are, however, driven by a complex spatiotemporal interplay of all surface and subsurface transport components. This highlights the advantages of applying the modified code in catchment-scale environmental exposure studies and for developing best management practices or mitigation strategies. The new code is made available as an electronic supplement to this technical note.