Use of Spatial and Temporal Variability of VOC Concentrations in Groundwater to Elucidate Transport Pathways
Presented on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Michael J. Wade, Ph.D1 and Jeffrey A. Johnson, Ph.D., PG2, (1)Wade Research, Marshfield, MA, (2)NewFields, Houston, TX
Data on spatial and temporal variations of numerous volatile organic compounds (VOC) in groundwater are commonly collected at suspected gasoline release sites. Variability of such compounds as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, the xylene isomers and gasoline additives such as MtBE over distance and in time can be used to assess the validity of subsurface transport paths to and from an impacted site. Collected VOC groundwater data can be used to determine proportional variability over time and location as well as to evaluate time of transport hypotheses. Various analytical tools to display time/space variability were used in a successful and recently concluded litigation case. Spatial and temporal courtroom exhibits that demonstrated down gradient property status are provided as real world examples.
Michael J. Wade, Ph.D
Wade Research, Marshfield, MA
Michael J. Wade is the Principal Scientist of Wade Research Inc. He is an organic geochemist with over 33 years of postdoctoral experience with an overall total of 40 years of strong technical and project management experience in a variety of research programs, with special emphasis on the study of organic contamination in the environment. Wade regularly provides expert forensic services both through deposition process as well as testimony in various U.S. federal and state courts in the areas of environmental contamination, including assessment of sources of contamination, identification of petroleum product types, and quantification of weathering effects on petroleum products.
Jeffrey A. Johnson, Ph.D., PG
NewFields, Houston, TX
Jeffrey A. Johnson has over 25 years of professional experience in natural resource assessment, site characterization, remedial operations, and technical analyses. He has worked on various projects throughout North America for major petroleum corporations, legal firms, manufacturing companies, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For the past 10 years, he has worked extensively in the characterization and remediation of LNAPL and DNAPL sites. Johnson is an Associate with NewFields. He holds a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a Certified and Registered Professional Geologist and a Licensed Remediation Specialist.
