Essai de description biologique des interactions entre eau de surface et eau souterraine: Vulnérabilité d'un aquifère à la pollution d'un fleuve

Abstract

The aim of the study is to define the vulnerability of phreatic waters to surface water pollution in a strongly polluted site of the river Rhône. Special emphasis is given to the description by oligochaete communities of the amplification of water exchanges between surface and underground waters, as well as of the degree of pollution at the site. The coarse sediments oligochaete index shows low values that attest to a heavy load of industrial pollution. The absolute and relative abundances of such taxa as Phallodrilus sp. increase in superficial coarse substrata in relation to hydraulic measurements of hydric exchanges amplification. These data emphasize the vulnerability of phreatic waters to pollution by superficial waters. The results are discussed. Seasonal effect was not considered here, and a new study is planned that includes seasonal factors and data on the biology of subterranean waters. © Masson, 1990.