Experimental Proof of Contaminant Ingress into a Leaking Pipe During a Transient Event

It has been hypothesised that negative transient pressures may result in ingress of contaminated groundwater through leakage orifices. This paper presents results of contaminant ingress tests from a novel laboratory facility at the University of Sheffield. An engineered leak surrounded by porous media was subjected to a pressure transient resulting from the rapid closure of an upstream valve. It has been shown that a pollutant originating externally was drawn in and transported to the end of the pipe loop. Thus this paper presents the first fully representative results of contaminant ingress.