The impact of low-temperature seasonal aquifer thermal energy storage (SATES) systems on chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater: Modeling of spreading and degradation

► PHT3D was used to model interaction of SATES and groundwater contamination plumes. ► Focus was on the effect of transient pumping by thermally balanced SATES systems. ► SATES significantly enlarged CHC plumes by well mixing and enhanced DNAPL-dissolution. ► With sediment-limited (zero-order) degradation kinetics, contaminant spreading enhances mass removal. ► In case of DNAPL dissolution, degradation leads eventually to a larger, new steady-state plume.