Australian guidance on flux-based assessment and management of groundwater

In the past, the assessment and management of groundwater contamination has been driven by contaminant concentrations, but concentration data alone are sometimes not sufficient to fully understand the behaviour of a plume over time. Mass flux and mass discharge estimates can help characterise and remediate groundwater contamination, and their inclusion in remedial design and optimisation may ultimately result in time- and cost-efficient groundwater remediation programs. The CRC CARE guidance illustrates how flux concepts, tools and measurements can be used to assess and manage groundwater contamination. Mass flux and mass discharge estimates are typically used to complement concentration-based assessments, rather than to replace them. (author)