A PCE groundwater plume discharging to a river: influence of the streambed and near-river zone on contaminant distributions

An investigation of a tetrachloroethene (PCE) groundwater plume originating at a dry cleaning facility on a sand aquifer and discharging to a river showed that the near-river zone strongly modified the distribution, concentration, and composition of the plume prior to discharging into the surface water. The plume, streambed concentration, and hydrogeology were extensively characterized using the Waterloo profiler, mini-profiler, conventional and driveable multilevel samplers (MLS), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys, streambed temperature mapping (to identify discharge zones), drivepoint piezometers, and soil coring and testing. The plume observed in the shallow streambed deposits was significantly different from what would have been predicted based on the characteristics of the upgradient plume. Spatial and temporal variations in the plume entering the near-river zone contributed to the complex contaminant distribution observed in the streambed where concentrations varied by factors of 100 to 5000 over lateral distances of less than 1 to 3.5 m. Low hydraulic conductivity semi-confining deposits and geological heterogeneities at depth below the streambed controlled the pattern of groundwater discharge through the streambed and influenced where the plume discharged into the river (even causing the plume to spread out over the full width of the streambed at some locations). The most important effect of the near-river zone on the plume was the extensive anaerobic biodegradation that occurred in the top 2.5 m of the streambed, even though essentially no biodegradation of the PCE plume was observed in the upgradient aquifer. Approximately 54% of the area of the plume in the streambed consisted solely of PCE transformation products, primarily cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) and vinyl chloride (VC). High concentrations in the interstitial water of the streambed did not correspond to high groundwater-discharge zones, but instead occurred in low discharge zones and are likely sorbed or retarded remnants of past high-concentration plume discharges. The high-concentration areas (up to 5529 microg/l of total volatile organics) in the streambed are of ecological concern and represent potential adverse exposure locations for benthic and hyporheic zone aquatic life, but the effect of these exposures on the overall health of the river has yet to be determined. Even if the upgradient source of PCE is remediated and additional PCE is prevented from reaching the streambed, the high-concentration deposits in the streambed will likely take decades to hundreds of years to flush completely clean under natural conditions because these areas have low vertical groundwater flow velocities and high retardation factors. Despite high concentrations of contaminants in the streambed, PCE was detected in the surface water only rarely due to rapid dilution in the river and no cDCE or VC was detected. Neither the sampling of surface water nor the sampling of the groundwater from the aquifer immediately adjacent to the river gave an accurate indication of the high concentrations of PCE biodegradation products present in the streambed. Sampling of the interstitial water of the shallow streambed deposits is necessary to accurately characterize the nature of plumes discharging to rivers.     

An overview of the methods used in the characterisation of natural organic matter (NOM) in relation to drinking water treatment

Natural organic matter (NOM) is found in all surface, ground and soil waters. During recent decades, reports worldwide show a continuing increase in the color and NOM of the surface water, which has an adverse affect on drinking water purification. For several practical and hygienic reasons, the presence of NOM is undesirable in drinking water. Various technologies have been proposed for NOM removal with varying degrees of success. The properties and amount of NOM, however, can significantly affect the process efficiency. In order to improve and optimise these processes, the characterisation and quantification of NOM at different purification and treatment processes stages is important. It is also important to be able to understand and predict the reactivity of NOM or its fractions in different steps of the treatment. Methods used in the characterisation of NOM include resin adsorption, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The amount of NOM in water has been predicted with parameters including UV-Vis, total organic carbon (TOC), and specific UV-absorbance (SUVA). Recently, methods by which NOM structures can be more precisely determined have been developed; pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), multidimensional NMR techniques, and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The present review focuses on the methods used for characterisation and quantification of NOM in relation to drinking water treatment.     

Geochemical processes of mercury in Wujiangdu and Dongfeng reservoirs, Guizhou, China

The geochemical processes of mercury in Dongfeng (DF) and Wujiangdu (WJD) reservoirs, which were constructed in 1992 and 1979, respectively in Wujiang River, which is the upper branch of Yangtze River were investigated. One sampling site was chosen upriver of 1 km from the dam for each reservoir. Three sampling campaigns were conducted at these sampling sites in December 2003, April 2004 and July 2004, respectively. The distributions of different mercury species in the water column, sediment, and sediment pore water were studied. We found that the sediment is the net source of both inorganic and MeHg to the water column for both reservoirs. The MeHg diffusion fluxes in WJD reservoir at all sampling campaigns were significantly higher than those in DF reservoir. Our study demonstrated that the high primary productivity in the reservoir produced elevated organic matter content that would favor the methylmercury production in sediment.     

夏季富营养化滆湖中沉水植物群落重建及水质净化效果

通过滆湖原位围隔试验分析了不同单种及混种沉水植物群落随环境变化的生长状况及对水质的净化效果.结果表明:(1)夏季,沉水植物生物量的平均值与透明度/水位存在显著线性相关性,进一步表明沉水植物的生长在很大程度上依赖于光强和水深.(2)各植物区(除马来眼子菜区外)的高锰酸盐指数、TN高于空白对照区.(3)对比空白对照区,苦草...     

二段生物接触氧化工艺在中水回用中的特性研究

以规模小区生活污水为水源,对采用聚丙烯网状填料和强化炉渣组合填料的二段生物接触氧化工艺（以下简称二段法）进行了试验研究,试验针对本工艺的各项技术指标、影响因素以及各相关参数进行了较系统的试验测试。结果表明,反应器在第一接触氧池HRT为20 min、气水比为6∶1和第二接触氧池HRT为25 min、气水比为5∶1条件下,接触氧化池达到最佳降碳条件;反应器在第一接触沉池上升流速5.5 m/h和第二接触沉池上升流速4.5 m/h条件下,接触沉淀池达到最佳处理条件。     

影响淀山湖水质变化的因素分析

就１９９６－１９９８年淀册湖全湖水质均值变化情况作了评述,对影响淀山湖水质变化的因素进行了分析和探讨。针对淀山湖水质受到太湖来水水质影响的情况,提出了在今后的工作中进一步加大保护淀册湖水质的建议和措施。     

Assessing Landscape Condition Relative to Water Resources in the Western United States: A Strategic Approach

The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is proposing an ambitious agenda to assess the status of streams and estuaries in a 12-State area of the western United States by the end of 2003. Additionally, EMAP is proposing to access landscape conditions as they relate to stream and estuary conditions across the west. The goal of this landscape project is to develop a landscape model that can be used to identify the relative risks of streams and estuaries to potential declines due to watershed-scale, landscape conditions across the west. To do so, requires an understanding of quantitative relationships between landscape composition and pattern metrics and parameters of stream and estuary conditions. This paper describes a strategic approach for evaluating the degree to which landscape composition and pattern influence stream and estuary condition, and the development and implementation of a spatially-distributed, landscape analysis approach.     

电导和直流安培双检测器离子色谱法测定清洁水样中的碘化物

选用配备了2种不同检测器(电导检测器和直流安培检测器)的离子色谱仪对稀释后过0.22μm滤膜的水样进行分析。配备有直流安培检测器的离子色谱仪测定水中碘化物的方法在0.100~20.0μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r)=0.9999,方法检出限为0.030μg/L,测定下限为0.120μg/L,样品加标回收率为95.0%~104%,相对标准偏差为1.06%~1.64%;配备有电导检测器的离子色谱仪测定水中碘化物的方法在20.0~2.00×105μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r)=0.9995,方法检出限为2.00μg/L,测定下限为8.00μg/L,样品加标回收率为99.0%~110%,相对标准偏差为0.71%~3.12%。离子色谱-直流安培检测器法测定水中碘化物的方法准确度高、灵敏度高、精密度好,检出限相对较低,适用于测定ρ(碘化物)≤20.0μg/L的清洁水样;离子色谱-电导检测器法主要适用于测定ρ(碘化物)≥20.0μg/L的水样。     

地震科技人员开发能力的灰色关联分析

应用灰色系统理论，根据江苏省地震工程研究院的地震科技开发资料，分别以项目负责人的年龄、学历、职称、职务、学科作为比较数列，对年度内完成的实际合同额进行了多因素灰色关联分析，排出了关联序。研究结果客观地揭示了开发能力与人的各种因素——年龄、学历、职称、职务、学科之间的相互关系，为市场经济条件下，地震科技人才的开发、培养和应用，提供了科学依据。     

水体富营养化的渐进性和灾难性

水体富营养化是全球范围内的普遍现象,他的危害性已越来越引起全人类的关注.本文从生态学、地球化学循环和全球气候变迁的角度,结合人类的社会活动,讨论了水体富营养化发生的机制、危害,并从全球角度提出人类面对富营养化应有的态度和应采取的对策.