Early-stage evaluation of riverbank filtration systems

Keywords: Riverbank filtration (RBF),, hydrogeological investigation methods, numerical modelling, finite difference method

Abstract

We have decades of experience in operating the large-scale riverbank filtration (RBF) systems used in our country and in Europe, although there are still open questions regarding the operation of these systems. This experience can be used in drinking water production plans of countries that have only recently started to use RBF systems or are still planning to use these systems. Such countries include India, Malaysia, and African countries. When faced with a potential RBF water base, it is useful to know how efficiently the river-aquifer system will operate. For this, it is useful to develop an evaluation system that is simple, easy to use, and includes the experiences that, for example, European countries have. In our work, we present the main previous results related to RBF systems, as well as tools that are of great help in the early-stage evaluation of these systems, and we also compared one evaluation method with finite difference method.

Author Biographies

Gábor Nyiri, University of Miskolc, Faculty of Earth Science and Engineering

GÁBOR NYIRI graduated from the University of Miskolc in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, then continued his studies at the University of Miskolc in the master's degree in hydrogeological engineering, where he obtained a certificate in hydrogeological engineering in 2015. From 2015 to 2016, he was the environmental protection officer of the Northern Hungary Regional Water Works ZRt. Since 2016, he has been a PhD student at the Mikoviny Sámuel Doctoral School of Earth Sciences of the University of Miskolc. His main research area is related to bank filtration systems and tentacle wells. He obtained his graduation degree on July 12, 2021, and successfully defended his PhD thesis in July 2022. He is currently a scientific associate at the Institute of Water and Environmental Management of the University of Miskolc.

Péter Szűcs, University of Miskolc, Faculty of Earth Science and Engineering

PÉTER SZŰCS obtained a diploma in geophysical engineering with honors from the Faculty of Mining Engineering of the Technical University for Heavy Industry in 1988. At the beginning of his teaching and research career, he first worked at the Department of Geophysics and then at the Mining Chemistry Research Laboratory of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. In 1993, he obtained the title of Dr. Univ., and in 1996, he obtained a PhD. In 2009, he obtained the academic title of Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and successfully completed his habilitation (Dr. habil.) at the University of Miskolc. Since 1998, he has been working at the Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology of the University of Miskolc. Head of the department since 2010. In 2010, he was appointed as a university professor. Head of the MTA-ME Geoengineering Research Group from 2012 to 2022. The number of his publications is more than 640. In 2022, he was elected as a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the Hungarian Hydrological Society since 1998.

References

A 123/1997. (VII. 18) Korm. rendelet a vízbázisok, a távlati vízbázisok, valamint az ivóvízellátást szolgáló vízilétesítmények védelméről.

Abdel-Fattah, A., Langford, R., Schulze-Makuch, D. (2008). Applications of particletracking techniques to bank infiltration: a case study from El Paso, Texas, USA. Environmental Geology 55 (3), pp. 505-515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0996-z

Bradley, P.M., Larry, B.B., Joseph, W.D., William, T.F., Edward, T.F., Laura, E.H., Kasey, J.H., Steffanie, H.K., Dana, W.K., (2014). Riverbank filtration potential of pharmaceuticals in a wastewater-impacted stream. Environmental Pollution 193, pp. 173-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.06.028

Caldwell, T.G. (2006). Presentation of Data for Factors Significant to Yield From Several Riverbank Filtration Systems in the US and Europe. Riverbank Filtration Hydrology. Springer, pp. 299-344. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2001.tb02362.x

Chen, X. (2001). Migration of induced-infiltrated stream water into nearby aquifers due to seasonal ground water withdrawal. Ground Water 39 (5), pp. 721-729. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2001.tb02362.x

Constantz, J. (2008). Heat as a tracer to determine streambed water exchanges. Water Resources Research 44 (4). https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR006996

Czuppon Gy., Tóth A., Fekete E., Fórizs I., Engloner A., Kármán K., Dobosy P., Nyiri G., Madarász T., Szűcs P. (2024). Stable isotope and hydrogeological measurements: Implications for transit time and mixing ratio in a riparian System of the Danube River, Journal of Hydrology, 650(132412), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132412

De Vet, W., Van Genuchten, C.C.A. (2010). Water quality and treatment of river bank filtrate. Drinking Water Engineering Science 3 (1), pp. 79-90. https://doi.org/10.5194/dwes-3-79-2010

Derx, J., Blaschke, A.P., Farnleitner, A.H., Pang, L. (2013). Effects of fluctuations in river water level on virus removal by bank filtration and aquifer passage—a scenario analysis. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 147, pp. 34-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2013.01.001

Doussan, C., Poitevin, G., Ledoux, E., Detay, M. (1997). River bank filtration: modelling of the changes in water chemistry with emphasis on nitrogen species. J. Contam. Hydrol. 25 (1), pp. 129-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7722(96)00024-1

Erdélyi N., Gere D., Fekete E., Nyiri G., Engloner A., Tóth A., Madarász T., Szűcs P., Nagy-Kovács Zs.Á., Pándics T., Vargha M. (2025). Transport model-based method for estimating micropollutant removal efficiency in riverbank filtration, Water Research, 275(123194), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.123194

Ghazali, M.F., Adlan, M.N., Rashid, N.A.A. (2015). Riverbank filtration: evaluation of hydraulic properties and riverbank filtered water at Jenderam Hilir, Selangor. Jurnal Teknologi 74 (11). https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v74.4857

Gorski, J., (2011). Quality of Riverbank Filtrated Water on the Base of Poznan City Poland: Water Work Experiences. Riverbank Filtration for Water Security in Desert Countries. Springer, pp. pp. 269-279. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0026-0_16

Hoang, N.A.T., Covatti, G., Grischek, T. (2022). Methodology for evaluation of potential sites for large-scale riverbank filtration. Hydrogeology Journal 30, 1701–1716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-022-02522-4

Holzbecher, E. (2006). Calculating the effect of natural attenuation during bank filtration. Comput. Geosci. 32 (9), Hoffman és Gunkel 2009:

Hoffmann A., Gunkel, G. (2009). Bank filtration in the sandy littoral zone of Lake Tegel (Berlin): Structure and dynamics of the biological active filter zone and clogging processes, Limnologica, 41(1), 10-19 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2009.12.003 pp. 1451-1460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2006.01.009

Hiscock, K.M., Grischek, T. (2002). Attenuation of groundwater pollution by bank filtration J. Hydrol., 266. pp. 139-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(02)00158-0

Hubbs, S.A. (2006). Changes in Riverbed Hydraulic Conductivity and Specific Capacity at Louisville. Riverbank Filtration Hydrology. Impact on System Capacity and Water Quality Nato Science Series IV (60). Springer, pp. 199–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3938-6_9

Juhász J. (1976). Hidrogeológia, Akadémiai kiadó, Budapest, ISBN 963 05 0785 4

Kármán K., Maloszewski P., Deák J., Fórizs I., Szabó Cs. (2014). Transit time determination in riverbank filtrated system by oxygen isotopic data using the lumped parameter model. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59 (6), pp. 1109-1116. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2013.808345

Kovács B. (2004). Hidrodinamikai és transzportmodellezés I. (Processing Modflow környezetben), Miskolci Egyetem, Műszaki Földtudományi Kar, Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Ásványtani, Geokémiai és Kőzettani Tanszék, GÁMA-GEO Kft. ISBN 963 661 636 1

Lautz, L.K., Siegel, D.I. (2006). Modeling surface and ground water mixing in the hyporheic zone using MODFLOW and MT3D. Adv. Water Resour. 29 (11), pp. 1618-1633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2005.12.003

Lee, E., Hyun, Y., Lee, K.K., Shin, J. (2012). Hydraulic analysis of a radial collector well for riverbank filtration near Nakdong River, South Korea. Hydrogeology Journal 20 (3), pp. 575-589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0821-3

Mustafa, S., Bahar, A., Aziz, Z.A., Suratman, S. (2014). Review of the role of analytical modelling methods in riverbank filtration system. Jurnal Teknologi 71 (1). https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v71.3055

Nagy-Kovács, Z., Davidesz, J., Czihat-Mártonné, K., Till, G., Fleit, E.; Grischek, T. (2019). Water Quality Changes during Riverbank Filtration in Budapest, Hungary. Water, 11, 302. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11020302

Nyiri G., Kovács B., Zákányi B., Szűcs P. (2022). Tartózkodási idő vizsgálata csápos kutak esetében, Hidroló-giai Közlöny, 102. évf. 4.szám, pp. 62-66.

Ojha, C.S.P. (2011). Simulating Turbidity Removal at a River Bank Filtration Site in India Using SCS-CN Approach, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 17(11). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000498

Ray, C. (2008). Worldwide potential of riverbank filtration. Clean Techn Environ Policy 10, 223–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-008-0164-5

Ray, C., Melin, G., Ronald B. Linsky R.B. (2003). Riverbank Filtration, Improving Source-Water Quality Springer Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48154-5

Ray, C., Prommer, H. (2006). Clogging-Induced Flow and Chemical Transport Simulation in Riverbank Filtration Systems. Riverbank Filtration Hydrology. Springer, pp. 155-177. https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v71.3055

Salamon, E.; Goda, Z. (2019). Coupling Riverbank Filtration with Reverse Osmosis May Favor Short Distances between Wells and Riverbanks at RBF Sites on the River Danube in Hungary. Water, 11, 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11010113

Sandhu, C., Grischek, T., Kumar, P., Ray, C. (2011). Potential for riverbank filtration in India. Clean Technol. Environ. Policy 13 (2), pp. 295-316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-010-0298-0

Schubert J. (2006). Experience with riverbed clogging along the Rhine river. Riverbank filtration hydrology. Impact on System Capacity and Water Quality Nato science series IV (60), Springer, pp. 221-242. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3938-6_10

Shamrukh, M., Abdel-Wahab, A. (2008). Riverbank filtration for sustainable water supply: application to a large-scale facility on the Nile River, Clean Techn Environ Policy 10, pp. 351-358., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-007-0143-2

Shamsuddin, M.K.N., Sulaiman, W.N.A., Suratman, S. (2014). Groundwater and surface-water utilisation using a bank infiltration technique in Malaysia. Hydrogeology Journal 22 (3), pp. 543-564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1122-4

Shankar, V., Eckert, P., Ojha, C., König, C.M. (2009). Transient three-dimensional modeling of riverbank filtration at Grind well field, Germany. Hydrogeology Journal, 17(2), pp. 321-326. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0356-4

Székely F., Nyiri G., Szűcs P., Zákányi B. (2021). Analytically supported numerical modeling of horizontal and radial collector wells, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 26(12). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0002137

Tolnai B. (szerk.) (2008): Vízellátás, Máttyus Sándor nyomán, A Fővárosi Vízművek Zrt. üzemeltetői ismeretanyaga, Budapest

Umar, D. A., Ramli, M., F., Aris, A., Z., Sulaiman, W.N.A., Kura, N.U., Tukur, A.I. (2017). An overview assessment of the effectiveness and global popularity of some methods used in measuring riverbank filtration, Journal of Hydrology, 550, pp. 497-515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.05.021

Völgyesi I. (2014). Parti szűrés? Biztos?, Hidrológiai Közlöny, 94(1), pp. 21-24.

Yadav, P.K., Batheja, V., Köhler, A., Cantarella, V., Tufail, M., Werth, C., Grischek, T. (2024). RBFsim – A tool for early planning stage of riverbank filtration Systems, Sustainable Water Research Management 10(167), https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-024-01137-9

Published
2025-11-20
How to Cite
NyiriG., & SzűcsP. (2025). Early-stage evaluation of riverbank filtration systems . Hungarian Journal of Hydrology, 105(4), 10-21. https://doi.org/10.59258/hk.20607
Section
Scientific Papers