Measuring Contaminant Mass Flux and Groundwater Velocity in Fractured Rock Aquifer Using Passive Flux Meters

Cutt, Diana M.

Measuring Contaminant Mass Flux and Groundwater Velocity in Fractured Rock Aquifer Using Passive Flux Meters

Monday, September 23, 2013

Diana M. Cutt, PG , Office of Research and Development, USEPA Region 2, New York, NY

Adalberto Bosque , Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, U.S. EPA, Santurce, PR

Michael D. Annable , University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

John N. Dougherty, PG , CDM Smith, Edison, NJ

Brendan MacDonald , CDM Smith, New York, NY

Katherine Ryan Mishkin , Superfund Division, USEPA Region 2, New York, NY

Michael Brooks , Office of Research and Development, 5U.S. EPA, Ada, OK

A. Lynn Wood , U.S. EPA, Ada, OK

The development of cost effective techniques for the assessment and remediation of contaminated fractured rock aquifers has been identified as a science priority in EPA Region 2. This project, funded by EPA’s Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) Program, will research the ability of an innovative tool – a fractured rock passive flux meter (FRPFM) - to measure groundwater flow velocity and mass flux in a fractured bedrock setting and to compare the results to current technology. The study will be implemented at a Superfund site in Puerto Rico where bedrock aquifers are an important source of drinking water. The goal is to research the ability of the FRPFM and standard passive flux meter (PFM) to measure groundwater flow velocity and mass flux in fractures in a fractured bedrock setting and to compare the results to current technology. A PFM consists of a cylinder of activated carbon impregnated with tracer compounds that can be installed in a well screened in unconsolidated deposits to measure groundwater flow velocity and contaminant mass flux. The FRPFM is an experimental system developed by the University of Florida. Using this tool, the activated carbon fabric material of the meter is placed against the bedrock in the borehole wall and uses packers to isolate different intervals of the open borehole. The research borehole will be geophysically logged and packer samples will be collected before installation of the flux meters. Both the FRPRM and the PFM are proposed to be installed in the research borehole at three or four depths so that the data generated can be compared to information obtained by geophysical logging and packer sampling from this and other boreholes at the site. Use of both PFM designs in the research borehole will allow comparison of the results generated by the different methods.

Diana M. Cutt, PG, Office of Research and Development, USEPA Region 2, New York, NY

Diana Cutt, PG, is Superfund and Technology Liaison for the EPA Region 2 Office of Research and Development.

Adalberto Bosque, Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, U.S. EPA, Santurce, PR

Adalberto Bosque is an engineer and Remedial Project Manager working at the U.S. EPA's Caribbean Environmental Protection Division in Puerto Rico. He is responsible for managing site investigation and remediation projects.

Michael D. Annable, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Michael Annable is a professor at the University of Florida with interests in groundwater remediation, tracer tests, environmental engineering, and hydrologic science.

John N. Dougherty, PG, CDM Smith, Edison, NJ

John Dougherty is a hydrogeologist with 28 years of experience in environmental consulting and has been working at CDM since 1999. At CDM he has been concentrating on hydrogeologic characterization of U.S. EPA Superfund sites in Region II. Many of these sites are situated in fractured bedrock terrain. He has experience in many aspects of site investigation, borehole geophysical investigations, and has designed and supervised the installation of monitoring wells at Superfund sites around the United States. Dougherty holds a B.S. in Geosciences from Pennsylvania State University.

Brendan MacDonald, CDM Smith, New York, NY

TBA

Katherine Ryan Mishkin, Superfund Division, USEPA Region 2, New York, NY

Katherine Ryan Mishkin serves as a Geologist in the Technical Support Section of Superfund in EPA Region 2.

Michael Brooks, Office of Research and Development, 5U.S. EPA, Ada, OK

Michael C. Brooks Dr. Brooks is an Environmental Engineer in EPA’s Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory. His research has included experimental and theoretical studies of air sparging flow patterns, innovative dense nonaqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) characterization and remediation techniques, and energetic contaminant remediation. His research area is DNAPLs and flux-based site management. Most recently, he has been involved with the evaluation of DNAPL remedial performance using mass flux measurements. This has included field- and laboratory-based studies that investigate the response of contaminant flux to DNAPL source mass removal.

A. Lynn Wood, U.S. EPA, Ada, OK

A. Lynn Wood is a Soil Scientist in EPA’s Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory. He has conducted extensive research into the transport of organic contaminants in both aqueous solutions and complex mixtures. Wood’s area of research is dense nonaqueous phase liquids and flux-based site management. His recent research involves the development and evaluation of innovative technologies for characterization and remediation of soils and aquifers contaminated with nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). He has field tested a variety of innovative techniques for extracting NAPLs from the subsurface, including methods that enhance solubilization, mobilization, or volatilization of the contaminants.