Integrated methodology for assessing the HCH groundwater pollution at the multi-source contaminated mega-site Bitterfeld/Wolfen

A large-scale groundwater contamination characterises the Pleistocene groundwater system of the former industrial and abandoned mining region Bitterfeld/Wolfen, Eastern Germany. For more than a century, local chemical production and extensive lignite mining caused a complex contaminant release from local production areas and related dump sites. Today, organic pollutants (mainly organochlorines) are present in all compartments of the environment at high concentration levels. An integrated methodology for characterising the current situation of pollution as well as the future fate development of hazardous substances is highly required to decide on further management and remediation strategies. Data analyses have been performed on regional groundwater monitoring data from about 10 years, containing approximately 3,500 samples, and up to 180 individual organic parameters from almost 250 observation wells. Run-off measurements as well as water samples were taken biweekly from local creeks during a period of 18 months. A kriging interpolation procedure was applied on groundwater analytics to generate continuous distribution patterns of the nodal contaminant samples. High-resolution geological 3-D modelling serves as a database for a regional 3-D groundwater flow model. Simulation results support the future fate assessment of contaminants. A first conceptual model of the contamination has been developed to characterise the contamination in regional surface waters and groundwater. A reliable explanation of the variant hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) occurrence within the two local aquifer systems has been derived from the regionalised distribution patterns. Simulation results from groundwater flow modelling provide a better understanding of the future pollutant migration paths and support the overall site characterisation. The presented case study indicates that an integrated assessment of large-scale groundwater contaminations often needs more data than only from local groundwater monitoring. The developed methodology is appropriate to assess POP-contaminated mega-sites including, e.g. HCH deposits. Although HCH isomers are relevant groundwater pollutants at this site, further organochlorine pollutants are present at considerably higher levels. The study demonstrates that an effective evaluation of the current situation of contamination as well as of the related future fate development requires detailed information of the entire observed system.     

Fingerprinting of Gasoline and Coal Tar NAPL Volatile Hydrocarbons Dissolved in Groundwater

Accidental spills and chronic leaks of fuel oil or other hydrocarbon material (e.g., coal tar) often result in subsurface accumulation of nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL), which can be a subsequent source of contamination in groundwater. Linking hydrocarbons in groundwater to a source NAPL has been difficult when using standard target analytes (e.g., BTEX) because of differences in partitioning properties of the analytes between the source NAPL and groundwater. Because aqueous solubility is predicted to be the controlling influence in the partitioning of hydrocarbons from NAPL to groundwater, a solubility-based approach to matching dissolved hydrocarbons in groundwater to their source NAPL has been developed and validated for two sites with commonly encountered types of NAPL contamination. Specifically, a gasoline LNAPL and a coal tar DNAPL from two separate sites (West Virginia and California) and groundwater interfaced with these NAPLs were analyzed for approximately 50 gasoline-range hydrocarbons consisting of paraffin, isoparaffin, (mono-) aromatic, naphthene, and olefin compounds (PIANO). Solubility characteristics of selected alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons from the PIANO analysis were used to identify a set of diagnostic hydrocarbons, expressed as hydrocarbon ratios, which were found to be useful in distinguishing the source(s) of hydrocarbons in groundwater. At the West Virginia site, the diagnostic ratios in a downgradient groundwater sample were similar to those of a gasoline NAPL at that site, indicating the source of hydrocarbons to the groundwater was the upgradient gasoline NAPL. The diagnostic ratios of the groundwater in contact with the gasoline NAPL and the remote groundwater were also similar, providing evidence that the diagnostic ratios were retained during transport in the aquifer. At the California site, diagnostic ratios in a cross-gradient groundwater sample differed from those of the coal tar NAPL at that site, indicating that the remote groundwater hydrocarbons did not originate from the coal tar contamination. Environmental factors such as selective degradation of specific isomers and various geological conditions (e.g., soil mineralogy, and organic content) may confound the application of this solubility-based fingerprinting approach. Thus, it is recommended that multiple diagnostic pairs be simultaneously evaluated when considering this fingerprinting approach for specific sites and product types.     

Application of Unknown Groundwater Pollution Source Release History Estimation Methodology to Distributed Sources Incorporating Surface-Groundwater Interactions

Sources of contamination of groundwater are often difficult to characterize. However, it is essential for effective remediation of polluted groundwater resources. This study demonstrates an application of the linked simulation-optimization based methodology to estimate the release history from spatially distributed sources of pollution at an illustrative abandoned mine-site. In linked simulation-optimization approaches a numerical groundwater flow and transport simulation model is linked to the optimization model. In this study, topographic and geologic characteristics of the abandoned mine-site were simulated using a three-dimensional (3D) numerical groundwater flow model. Transport of contaminant in the groundwater was simulated using a 3D transient advective-dispersive contaminant transport model. Adsorption or chemical reaction of the contaminant was not considered in the contaminant transport model. Adaptive simulated annealing (ASA) was employed for solving the optimization problem. An optimization algorithm generates the candidate solutions corresponding to various unknown groundwater source characteristics. The candidate solutions are used as input in the numerical groundwater transport simulation model to generate the concentration of pollutant in the study area. This information is used to calculate the objective function value, which is utilized by the optimization algorithm to improve the candidate solution. This process continues until an optimal solution is obtained. Optimal solutions obtained in this study show that the linked simulation-optimization based methodology is potentially applicable for the characterization of spatially distributed pollutant sources, typically present at abandoned mine-sites.     

Flux-based assessment at a manufacturing site contaminated with trichloroethylene

Groundwater and contaminant fluxes were measured, using the passive flux meter (PFM) technique, in wells along a longitudinal transect passing approximately through the centerline of a trichloroethylene (TCE) plume at a former manufacturing plant located in the Midwestern US. Two distinct zones of hydraulic conductivity were identified from the measured groundwater fluxes; a 6-m-thick upper zone ( approximately 7 m to 13 m below the ground surface or bgs) with a geometric mean Darcy flux (q(0)) of 2 cm/day, and a lower zone ( approximately 13 m to 16.5m bgs) with a q(0) approximately 15 cm/day; this important hydrogeologic feature significantly impacts any remediation technology used at the site. The flux-averaged TCE concentrations estimated from the PFM results compared well with existing groundwater monitoring data. It was estimated that at least 800 kg of TCE was present in the source zone. The TCE mass discharge across the source control plane (85 m x 38 m) was used to estimate the "source strength" ( approximately 365 g/day), while mass discharges across multiple down-gradient control planes were used to estimate the plume-averaged, TCE degradation rate constant (0.52 year(-1)). This is close to the rate estimated using the conventional centerline approach (0.78 year(-1)). The mass discharge approach provides a more robust and representative estimate than the centerline approach since the latter uses only data from wells along the plume centerline while the former uses all wells in the plume.     

One-at-a-time sensitivity analysis of pollutant loadings to subsurface properties for the assessment of soil and groundwater pollution potential

Chemical leak was numerically simulated for four chemical substances: benzene (light non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL)), tetrachloroethylene (dense NAPL), phenol (soluble in water), and pentachlorophenol (white crystalline solid) in a hypothetical subsurface leak situation using a multiphase compositional transport model. One metric ton of chemical substances was assumed to leak at a point 3.51 m above the water table in a homogeneous unconfined aquifer which had the depth to water table of 7.135 m, the hydraulic gradient of 0.00097, the recharge rate of 0.7 mm/day, and the permeability of 2.92?×?10^?10 m². For comparison, surface spill scenarios, which had a long pathway from source to the water table, were simulated. Using the model results, point-source pollutant loadings to soil and groundwater were calculated by multiplying mass, impact area, and duration above and below the water table respectively. Their sensitivity to subsurface properties (depth to water table, recharge rate, porosity, organic carbon content, decay rate, hydraulic gradient, capillary pressure, relative permeability, permeability) was analyzed, with changing each parameter within acceptable ranges. The study result showed that the pollutant loading to groundwater was more sensitive to the subsurface properties than the pollutant loading to soil. Decay rate, groundwater depth, hydraulic gradient and porosity were influential to pollutant loadings. The impact of influential parameters on pollutant loadings was nonlinear. The dominant subsurface properties of pollution loadings (e.g., decay rate, groundwater depth, hydraulic gradient, and porosity for groundwater) also affect the vulnerability, and the subsurface pollutant loadings defined in this study are dependent on chemical properties as well, which indicates that the influential hydrogeological and physicochemical parameters to pollutant loadings can be used for pollution potential assessment. The contribution of this work is the suggestion that the sensitivity of pollutant loadings can be used for pollution potential assessment. Soil and groundwater pollution potential of chemicals are discussed altogether for leak scenarios. A physics-based model is used to understand the impact of subsurface properties on the fate and transport of chemicals above and below the water table, and consequently their impact on the pollutant loading to soil and groundwater.

     

Influence of temporally variable groundwater flow conditions on point measurements and contaminant mass flux estimations

Monitoring of contaminant concentrations, e.g., for the estimation of mass discharge or contaminant degradation rates, often is based on point measurements at observation wells. In addition to the problem, that point measurements may not be spatially representative, a further complication may arise due to the temporal dynamics of groundwater flow, which may cause a concentration measurement to be not temporally representative. This paper presents results from a numerical modeling study focusing on temporal variations of the groundwater flow direction. “Measurements” are obtained from point information representing observation wells installed along control planes using different well frequencies and configurations. Results of the scenario simulations show that temporally variable flow conditions can lead to significant temporal fluctuations of the concentration and thus are a substantial source of uncertainty for point measurements. Temporal variation of point concentration measurements may be as high as the average concentration determined, especially near the plume fringe, even when assuming a homogeneous distribution of the hydraulic conductivity. If a heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity field is present, the concentration variability due to a fluctuating groundwater flow direction varies significantly within the control plane and between the different realizations. Determination of contaminant mass fluxes is also influenced by the temporal variability of the concentration measurement, especially for large spacings of the observation wells. Passive dosimeter sampling is found to be appropriate for evaluating the stationarity of contaminant plumes as well as for estimating average concentrations over time when the plume has fully developed. Representative sampling has to be performed over several periods of groundwater flow fluctuation. For the determination of mass fluxes at heterogeneous sites, however, local fluxes, which may vary considerably along a control plane, have to be accounted for. Here, dosimeter sampling in combination with time integrated local water flux measurements can improve mass flux estimates under dynamic flow conditions.     

Groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling applications in urban area: scopes and limitations

Background

A three-dimensional groundwater flow model was used to evaluate the groundwater potential and assess the effects of groundwater withdrawal on the regional water level and flow direction in the central Beijing area. A program of groundwater modeling aimed at estimating current contaminant fluxes to the central area and site streams via groundwater was developed.

Results and discussion

The conceptual model developed for the site attempted to incorporate a complex stratigraphic profile in which groundwater flow and contaminant transport is strongly controlled by a shallow aquifer. Here, a conceptual model for groundwater flow and contaminant transport in central Beijing is presented.

Conclusion

Model simulations indicated that a sharp drop in the hydraulic head occurs at the center of the model area, which generates a cone of depression and a continuous decline of head with respect to time as a result of heavy groundwater abstraction.     

Quantification of mass fluxes and natural attenuation rates at an industrial site with a limited monitoring network: a case study

At many "real world" field sites, the number of available monitoring wells is limited due to economic or geological reasons. Under such restricted conditions, it is difficult to perform a reliable field investigation and to quantify primary lines of evidence for natural attenuation (NA), like the documentation of a decrease of contaminant mass flux in flow direction. This study reports the results of a groundwater investigation at a former manufactured gas plant situated in a Quaternary river valley in southwest Germany. The location, infrastructure and aquifer setting are typical of many industrial sites in Germany. Due to difficult drilling conditions (coarse glaciofluvial gravel deposits and an anthropogenic fill above the aquifer), only 12 monitoring wells were available for the investigation and localisation of the contaminant plume. These wells were situated along three control planes (CP) downgradient from the contaminant source, with four wells along each plane. Based on the sparse set of monitoring wells, field scale mass fluxes and first-order natural attenuation rate constants of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene and p-xylene (BTEX) and low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were estimated utilizing different point scale and also a new integral investigation method. The results show that even at a heterogeneous site with a sparse monitoring network point scale investigation methods can provide reliable information on field scale natural attenuation rates, if a dependable flow model or tracer test data is available. If this information is not available, only the new integral investigation method presented can yield adequate results for the quantification of contaminant mass fluxes under sparse monitoring conditions.     

Quantification of groundwater contamination in an urban area using integral pumping tests

In this paper, the integral groundwater investigation method is used for the quantification of PCE and TCE mass flow rates at an industrialized urban area in Linz, Austria. In this approach, pumping wells positioned along control planes perpendicular to the groundwater flow direction are operated for a time period on the order of days and sampled for contaminants. The concentration time series of the contaminants measured during operation of the pumping wells are then used to determine contaminant mass flow rates, mean concentrations and the plume shapes and positions at the control planes. The three control planes used in Linz were positioned downstream of a number of potential source zones, which are distributed over the field site. By use of the integral investigation method, it was possible to identify active contaminant sources, quantify the individual source strength in terms of mass flow rates at the control planes and estimate the contaminant plume position relative to the control planes. The source zones emitting the highest PCE and TCE mass flow rates could be determined, representing the areas where additional investigation and remediation activities will be needed. Additionally, large parts of the area investigated could be excluded from further investigation and remediation activities.     

Estimation of Methyl tert -Butyl Ether Plume Length Using the Domenico Analytical Model

Methyl tert -butyl ether (MTBE) plume is controlled by many factors, primarily by groundwater flow velocity, dispersion, natural attenuation. This study employed an analytical model introduced by Domemico (1987, J. Hydrol 91 , 49-58.) to describe the MTBE concentration distribution horizontal pattern and estimated the MTBE plume length. The model was applied to 90 leaking underground storage tank cases in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. The analytical model was calibrated with field data for each ease using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program. Methyl tert -butyl ether concentrations in one source monitoring well and one to two downgradient centerline monitoring wells were used for each case study. When the centerline well is not available, the closest off-centerline wells were projected to the centerline using an ellipse trigonometry method. The model parameter values for longitudinal dispersivity, groundwater velocity, and degradation rate constant were calibrated using the field data and then used to estimate the maximum distance between source well and the plume edge. This study demonstrates that the Domenico model can be applied to MTBE plume investigation when adequate field data are available. The correlation coefficients calculated based on the results of the 90 case studies indicate that MTBE plume length has a poor correlation with MTBE concentration at the source well, and a moderate negative correlation with the degradation rate constant ( m 0.65) and u / v ratio (0.64). Furthermore, MTBE plume length has a poor correlation with the longitudinal dispersivity ( m 0.4), hydraulic gradient ( m 0.1), and groundwater velocity (0.17).     

The mathematical modelling of total nitrogen contamination transport via groundwater from a sugar factory in Eskisehir, Turkey

In this study, mathematical modelling of the total nitrogen contamination transport in a porous medium was evaluated in order to determine the potential groundwater pollution caused by a sugar factory in the Eskisehir region of Turkey. Analytical solutions of mathematical modelling were performed to show graphically the distributions of contaminant concentrations. Multiflow computer programming was used to determine the distribution of contaminant concentrations with respect to time and distance. The distribution distance of contaminant concentrations was determined at any time interval. From this study, the potential pollution of groundwater can be effectively estimated. Prediction of pollution by means of the model will help to form the future predictions of water resource management.     

A Monitoring Network Design Procedure for Three-Dimensional (3D) Groundwater Contaminant Source Identification

Finding the location and concentration of contaminant sources is an important step in groundwater remediation and management. This discovery typically requires the solution of an inverse problem. This inverse problem can be formulated as an optimization problem where the objective function is the sum of the square of the errors between the observed and predicted values of contaminant concentration at the observation wells. Studies show that the source identification accuracy is dependent on the observation locations (i.e., network geometry) and frequency of sampling; thus, finding a set of optimal monitoring well locations is very important for characterizing the source. The objective of this study is to propose a sensitivity-based method for optimal placement of monitoring wells by incorporating two uncertainties: the source location and hydraulic conductivity. An optimality metric called D-optimality in combination with a distance metric, which tends to make monitoring locations as far apart from each other as possible, is developed for finding optimal monitoring well locations for source identification. To address uncertainty in hydraulic conductivity, an integration method of multiple well designs is proposed based on multiple hydraulic conductivity realizations. Genetic algorithm is used as a search technique for this discrete combinatorial optimization problem. This procedure was applied to a hypothetical problem based on the well-known Borden Site data in Canada. The results show that the criterion-based selection proposed in this paper provides improved source identification performance when compared to uniformly distributed placement of wells.     

Occurrence of sulfonamide antimicrobials in private water wells in Washington County, Idaho, USA

Samples from six private wells formerly used as sources for drinking water by the residents of Washington County (Weiser, Idaho) were collected to assess the impact of a nearby confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) on the quality of the local groundwater. All six samples were found contaminated by two veterinary antimicrobials, sulfamethazine (at concentrations from 0.076 to 0.22 μg/l) and sulfadimethoxine (at concentrations from 0.046 to 0.068 μg/l). These groundwater samples also contained elevated concentrations of nitrate and ammonium. Three of the sampled wells have nitrate levels that exceeded the maximum contaminant level set by the US Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water, with nitrate concentration as high as 39.1 mg/l. All but one well showed nitrate, which instead contained ammonium at 1.22 mg/l. Analysis of the nitrate and ammonium in these samples by isotopic ratio mass spectrometry indicated δ¹⁵N characteristic of an animal or human waste source. Results from this study underscore the role of CAFO as an important source of antibiotic contamination of groundwater.     

Evaluation of groundwater contamination in a coastal area of south-eastern Sicily

This investigation was under taken to evaluate the groundwater resources contamination due to intensive agricultural practices (particularly greenhouses). The study-area is located in the coastal area of the Ragusa province (South-East Sicily), where numerous existing greenhouses may cause the contamination of groundwater systems (unconfined and confined aquifers) beneath the cropped land. The pollution risk is mainly related with the seepage process of macro-elements nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), held in the irrigation water and the massive use of fertilizers and pesticides, that may pass through the unsaturated zone of the soil profile. Moreover, the area is characterized by the presence of several wells (about 15 wells/km2) for agricultural use that cause the aquifer overexploitation and the consequent risk of seawater intrusion. The agriculture practices adopted in the study area (irrigation volumes, fertilizer concentrations, use of pesticides…) were monitored since February 2009; moreover, the pollution risk of the aquifers was evaluated through the analysis of groundwater water samples collected (monthly) in the monitoring wells; in particular, nitrogen compounds, soluble phosphorous (PO?2?), potassium, as well as the main pesticides commonly used in the study area, were measured.The results show that electrical conductivity and chloride concentration values can cause reduction of production and leaf damage problems, respectively, for most of the monitored farm systems. The high nitrogen compounds concentrations observed in the monitored wells can cause health and environmental problems. Moreover high pesticide contamination of groundwater was found in two of the five monitored wells.     

Modelling the migration of contaminants through variably saturated dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk

In the Hesbaye region in Belgium, tracer tests performed in variably saturated fissured chalk rocks presented very contrasting results in terms of transit times, according to artificially controlled water recharge conditions prevailing during the experiments. Under intense recharge conditions, tracers migrated across the partially or fully saturated fissure network, at high velocity in accordance with the high hydraulic conductivity and low effective porosity (fracture porosity). At the same time, a portion of the tracer was temporarily retarded in the almost immobile water located in the matrix. Under natural infiltration conditions, the fissure network remained inactive. Tracers migrated downward through the matrix, at low velocity in relation with the low hydraulic conductivity and the large porosity of the matrix. Based on these observations, Brouyère et al. (2004a) [Brouyère, S., Dassargues, A., Hallet, V., 2004a. Migration of contaminants through the unsaturated zone overlying the Hesbaye chalky aquifer in Belgium: a field investigation, J. Contam. Hydrol., 72 (1-4), 135-164, doi: 10.1016/j.conhyd.2003.10.009] proposed a conceptual model in order to explain the migration of solutes in variably saturated, dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk. Here, mathematical and numerical modelling of tracer and contaminant migration in variably saturated fissured chalk is presented, considering the aforementioned conceptual model. A new mathematical formulation is proposed to represent the unsaturated properties of the fissured chalk in a more dynamic and appropriate way. At the same time, the rock water content is partitioned between mobile and immobile water phases, as a function of the water saturation of the chalk rock. The groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the variably saturated chalk is solved using the control volume finite element method. Modelling the field tracer experiments performed in the variably saturated chalk shows the adequacy and usefulness of the new conceptual, mathematical and numerical model.     

An analytical quantification of mass fluxes and natural attenuation rate constants at a former gasworks site

A new integral groundwater investigation approach was used for the first time to quantify natural attenuation rates at field scale. In this approach, pumping wells positioned along two control planes were operated at distances of 140 and 280 m downstream of a contaminant source zone at a former gasworks site polluted with BTEX- (benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, o-, p-xylene) and PAH- (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) compounds. Based on the quantified changes in total contaminant mass fluxes between the control planes, first-order natural attenuation rate constants could be estimated. For BTEX-compounds, these ranged from 1.4e-02 to 1.3e-01 day(-1) whereas for PAH-compounds natural attenuation rate constants of 3.7e-04 to 3.1e-02 day(-1) were observed. Microbial degradation activity at the site was indicated by an increase in dissolved iron mass flux and a reduction in sulphate mass flux between the two investigated control planes. In addition to information about total contaminant mass fluxes and average concentrations, an analysis of the concentration-time series measured at the control planes also allowed to semi-quantitatively delineate the aquifer regions most likely contaminated by the BTEX- and PAH-compounds.     

New methodology to investigate potential contaminant mass fluxes at the stream-aquifer interface by combining integral pumping tests and streambed temperatures

The spatial pattern and magnitude of mass fluxes at the stream-aquifer interface have important implications for the fate and transport of contaminants in river basins. Integral pumping tests were performed to quantify average concentrations of chlorinated benzenes in an unconfined aquifer partially penetrated by a stream. Four pumping wells were operated simultaneously for a time period of 5 days and sampled for contaminant concentrations. Streambed temperatures were mapped at multiple depths along a 60m long stream reach to identify the spatial patterns of groundwater discharge and to quantify water fluxes at the stream-aquifer interface. The combined interpretation of the results showed average potential contaminant mass fluxes from the aquifer to the stream of 272microgm(-2)d(-1) MCB and 71microgm(-2)d(-1) DCB, respectively. This methodology combines a large-scale assessment of aquifer contamination with a high-resolution survey of groundwater discharge zones to estimate contaminant mass fluxes between aquifer and stream.     

Transport of hydrocarbons from an emplaced fuel source experiment in the vadose zone at Airbase Vaerløse, Denmark

An emplaced hydrocarbon source field experiment was conducted in the relatively homogeneous sandy geology of the vadose zone at Airbase Vaerl?se, Denmark. The source (10.2 l of NAPL) consisted of 13 hydrocarbons (n-, iso- and cyclo-alkanes and aromates) and CFC-113 as a tracer. Monitoring in the 107 soil gas probes placed out to 20 m from the centre of the source showed spreading of all the compounds in the pore air and all compounds were measured in the pore air within a few hours after source emplacement. Seven of the fourteen compounds were depleted from the source within the 1 year of monitoring. The organic vapours in the pore air migrated radially from the source. The CFC-113 concentrations seemed to be higher in the deeper soil gas probes compared with the hydrocarbons, indicating a high loss of CFC-113 to the atmosphere and the lack of degradation of CFC-113. For the first days after source emplacement, the transport of CFC-113, hexane and toluene was successfully simulated using a radial gas-phase diffusion model for the unsaturated zone. Groundwater pollution caused by the vadose zone hydrocarbon vapours was only detected in the upper 30 cm of the underlying groundwater and only during the first 3 months of the experiment. Only the most water-soluble compounds were detected in the groundwater and concentrations decreased sharply with depth (approximately one order of magnitude within 10 cm depth) to non-detect at 30 cm depth. The groundwater table varied more than 1 m within the measurement period. However that did not influence the direction of the groundwater flow. Approximately 7 months after source emplacement the groundwater table rose more than 1 m within 1 month. That did not cause additional pollution of the groundwater.     

Arsenic species and chemistry in groundwater of southeast Michigan

Groundwater samples, taken from 73 wells in 10 counties of southeast Michigan in 1997 had arsenic concentrations in the range of 0.5 to 278 microg/L the average being 29 microg/l. About 12% of these wells had arsenic concentrations that exceeded the current USEPA's maximum contaminant level of 50 microg/l. Most (53-98%) of the arsenic detected was arsenite [As(III)] and other observations supported the arsenic species distribution (low redox potential and DO). In shallow groundwater (< 15 m), arsenic concentrations are low likely due to the formation of insoluble ferrosoferric hydroxide complex. In deep groundwater (> 15 m), the concentration of arsenic is possibly controlled by reductive dissolution of arsenic-rich iron hydroxide/oxyhydroxide and dissolution of arsenic sulfide minerals.     

State of the Art Report on Mathematical Methods for Groundwater Pollution Source Identification

The reliable assessment of hazards or risks arising from groundwater contamination problems and the design of efficient and effective techniques to mitigate these problems require the capability to predict the behavior of chemical contaminants in flowing water. Most attempts at quantifying contaminant transport have relied on a solution of some form of a well-known governing equation referred to as advection-dispersion-reaction equation. To choose an appropriate remediation strategy, knowledge of the contaminant release source and time release history becomes pertinent. As additional contaminated sites are being detected, it is almost impossible to perform exhaustive drilling, testing, and chemical fingerprint analysis every time. Moreover, chemical fingerprinting and site records are not sufficient to allow a unique solution for the timing of source releases. The purpose of this paper is to present and review mathematical methods that have been developed during the past 15 years to identify the contaminant source location and recover the time release history.