Long‐Term Impacts on Groundwater and Reductive Dechlorination Following Bioremediation in a Highly Characterized Trichloroethene DNAPL Source Area

High‐resolution soil and groundwater monitoring was performed to assess the long‐term impacts of bioremediation using bioaugmentation with a dechlorinating microbial consortium (and sodium lactate as the electron donor) in a well‐characterized trichloroethene (TCE) dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source area. Monitoring was performed up to 3.7 years following active bioremediation using a high‐density monitoring network that included several discrete interval multi‐level sampling wells. Results showed that despite the absence of lactate, lactate fermentation transformation products, or hydrogen, biogeochemical conditions remained favorable for the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes. In locations where soil data showed that TCE DNAPL sources persisted, local contaminant rebound was observed in groundwater, whereas no rebound or continuous decreases in chlorinated ethenes were observed in locations where DNAPL sources were treated. While ethene levels measured 3.7 years after active treatment suggested relatively low (2 to 30%) dechlorination of the parent TCE and daughter products, carbon stable isotope analysis showed that the extent of complete dechlorination was much greater than indicated by ethene generation and that the estimated first‐order rate constant describing the complete dechlorination of TCE at 3.7 years following active bioremediation was approximately 3.6 y–1. Overall, results of this study suggest that biological processes may persist to treat TCE for years after cessation of active bioremediation, thereby serving as an important component of remedial treatment design and long‐term attenuation.     

Ethanol-Stimulated Bioremediation of Nitrate-Contaminated Ground Water

Extensive characterization of a nitrate-contaminated site at a Canadian airport revealed that natural attenuation of the plume was limited due to aerobic conditions. However, nitrate removal rates as high as 1.4 mg-N/(L/day) were observed in batch tests carried out under denitrifying conditions with an added carbon source. On the basis of these results, a field denitrification pilot test using a setup of vertical withdrawal and injection wells was carried out. Ethanol was used as a carbon source to stimulate the growth and activity of indigenous denitrifying bacterial populations. Denitrification rates of up to 1.2 mg-N/(L/day) were achieved during the test. The test confirmed the feasibility of the technology, which uses the indigenous bacterial populations for denitrification and transforms the aquifer into a subsurface bioreactor.     

Long-Term Ground Water Quality Impacts from the Use of Hexazinone for the Commercial Production of Lowbush Blueberries

Lowbush blueberries, native to eastern Canada and Maine, are an important economic crop in these areas. Herbicides containing the active ingredient hexazinone are commonly applied to blueberry fields, and there is a high frequency of detection of relatively low concentrations of hexazinone in domestic wells located close to areas of lowbush blueberry production. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term impacts from hexazinone-based herbicide use on ground water quality in the immediate growing areas.
Physical and chemical hydrogeologic data were collected for an outwash sand and gravel aquifer in southwestern New Brunswick, Canada. The majority of the land overlying the aquifer is devoted to lowbush blueberry production. Twenty-one nested monitoring wells were sampled for hexazinone and hexazinone metabolites over a four-year period. Hexazinone was consistently detected at values of 1 to 8 parts per billion (ppb) in all but two of these wells, one that is upgradient of herbicide applications, and one that is downgradient with anoxic conditions. Hexazinone metabolites B and A1 were also detected in all but two of the 21 wells at values ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 ppb. The hexazinone and metabolite data suggest both aerobic and anaerobic degradation of hexazinone. Complete degradation of hexazinone appears to occur only in the one downgradient well exhibiting anoxic ground water conditions. Concentrations of hexazinone and its metabolites in the ground water were essentially constant over the four-year period.     

Enhancement of In Situ Bioremediation of BTEX-Contaminated Ground Water by Oxygen Diffusion from Silicone Tubing

A field study of oxygen-enhanced biodegradation was carried out in a sandy iron-rich ground water system contaminated with gasoline hydrocarbons. Prior to the oxygen study, intrinsic microbial biodegradation in the contaminant plume had depleted dissolved oxygen and created anaerobic conditions. An oxygen diffusion system made of silicone polymer tubing was installed in an injection well within an oxygen delivery zone containing coarse highly permeable sand. During the study, this system delivered high dissolved oxygen (DO) levels (39 mg/L) to the ground water within a part of the plume. The ground water was sampled at a series of monitors in the test zone downgradient of the delivery well to determine the effect of oxygen on dissolved BTEX, ground water geochemistry, and microbially mediated biodegradation processes. The DO levels and Eh increased markedly at distances up to 2.3 m (7.5 feet) downgradient. Potential biofouling and iron precipitation effects did not clog the well screens or porous medium. The increased dissolved oxygen enhanced the population of aerobes while the activity of anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogens decreased. Based on concentration changes, the estimated total rate of BTEX biodegradation rose from 872 mg/day before enhancement to 2530 mg/day after 60 days of oxygen delivery. Increased oxygen flux to the test area could account for aerobic biodegradation of 1835 mg/day of the BTEX. The estimated rates of anaerobic biodegradation processes decreased based on the flux of sulfate, iron (II), and methane. Two contaminants in the plume, benzene and ethylbenzene, are not biodegraded as readily as toluene or xylenes under anaerobic conditions. Following oxygen enhancement, however, the benzene and ethylbenzene concentrations decreased about 98%, as did toluene and total xylenes.     

Performance of Full‐Scale Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination in Clay Till

At a low permeability clay till site contaminated with chlorinated ethenes (Gl. Kongevej, Denmark), enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) was applied by direct push injection of molasses and dechlorinating bacteria. The performance was investigated by long‐term groundwater monitoring, and after 4 years of remediation, the development of degradation in the clay till matrix was investigated by high‐resolution subsampling of intact cores. The formation of degradation products, the presence of specific degraders Dehalococcoides spp. with the vinyl chloride (VC) reductase gene vcrA, and the isotope fractionation of trichloroethene, cis‐dichloroethene (cis‐DCE), and VC showed that degradation of chlorinated ethenes occurred in the clay till matrix as well as in sand lenses, sand stringers, and fractures. Bioactive sections of up to 1.8 m had developed in the clay till matrix, but sections, where degradation was restricted to narrow zones around sand lenses and stringers, were also observed. After 4 years of remediation, an average mass reduction of 24% was estimated. Comparison of the results with model simulation scenarios indicate that a mass reduction of 85% can be obtained within approximately 50 years without further increase in the narrow reaction zones if no donor limitations occur at the site. Long‐term monitoring of the concentration of chlorinated ethenes in the underlying chalk aquifer revealed that the aquifer was affected by the more mobile degradation products cis‐DCE and VC generated during the remediation by ERD.     

The Application of a Statistical Trend Analysis Model to Ground Water Monitoring Data from Solid Waste Landfills

A statistical trend methodology is used to compare ground water quality between eight landfill sites in western Michigan as a case study. Monitoring data were collected over a 15-year period on 36 parameters at an upgradient and downgradient well selected at each of the eight sites. This yielded a total of 576 monitoring data sets available for analysis. New trend and contamination indices are introduced that are used to compare ground water contamination between these eight sites. These indices are used to assess each landfill's relative potential for environmental harm.
Many questions remain unanswered, but what is demonstrated here is that this type of methodology has the potential to be used to assess trends of ground water chemistry concentrations at landfill sues in a region. A specific purpose of such an assessment could be to provide a quantified basis for the prioritization of funds allocated for cleanup of contaminated landfill sites. Having a technical capability to reduce large amounts of ground water monitoring data to appropriate summaries, which then can be used to assess environmental contamination between several sites, could also have important economic and health implications in other settings. Hopefully this paper will encourage further development of such technologies for these purposes.     

Towards Quantifying the Likelihood of Water Resource Impacts from Unconventional Gas Development

Gas production from unconventional reservoirs has led to widespread environmental concerns. Despite several excellent reviews of various potential impacts to water resources from unconventional gas production, no study has systematically and quantitatively assessed the potential for these impacts to occur. We use empirical evidence and numerical and analytical models to quantify the likelihood of surface water and groundwater contamination, and shallow aquifer depletion from unconventional gas developments. These likelihoods are not intended to be exact. They provide a starting point for comparing the probabilities of adverse impacts between types of water resources and pathways. This analysis provides much needed insight into what are “probable” rather than simply “possible” impacts. The results suggest that the most likely water resource impacts are surface water and groundwater contamination from spills at the well pad, which can be as high as 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 for each gas well, respectively. For wells that are hydraulically fractured, the likelihood of contamination due to inter-aquifer leakage is 1 in 10⁶ or lower (dependent on the separation distance between the production formation and the aquifer). For gas-bearing formations that were initially over-pressurized, the potential for contamination from inter-aquifer leakage after production ceases could be as high as 1 in 400 where the separation between gas formation and shallow aquifer is 500 m, but will be much lower for greater separation distances (more characteristic of shale gas).     

洗涤剂禁(限)磷对流域水质影响预测

本文在确定流域洗涤剂的磷在水体磷负荷中所占的比重及贡献率的基础上,采用Thomoamn数学模型,对在实施洗涤剂禁限磷措施后,流域水质的响应进行预测,并评估洗涤剂禁限磷的环境效果,水质预测结果表明,实行限、禁磷措施后,供水水质磷含量将从目前的0.24mg/L降至0.48mg/L,磷负荷削减了25%;如严格控制流域禽畜散养,削减非点源磷盐60%,供水水质处于地面水Ⅱ类水质（0.1mg/L）标准临界水平。     

Evaluation of Long‐Term Performance and Sustained Treatment at Enhanced Anaerobic Bioremediation Sites

This study evaluated the long‐term performance of enhanced anaerobic bioremediation (EAB) at chlorinated solvent sites to determine if sustained treatment processes were helping to prevent concentration rebound. A database of groundwater concentration versus time records was compiled for 34 sites, with at least 3 years of posttreatment monitoring data (median = 4.7 years, range = 3.0 to 11.7 years). Long‐term performance was evaluated based on order‐of‐magnitude (OoM) changes in parent compound concentrations during various monitoring periods. Results indicate that, relative to the pretreatment concentration, a median concentration reduction for all 34 sites of 1.0 OoM (90% reduction) was achieved by the end of the posttreatment monitoring period. No rebound was observed at 65% of the sites between the first year of posttreatment monitoring and the final year. During this posttreatment period, Mann‐Kendall trend analysis indicated that the concentration was stable or decreasing at 89% of the sites where a trend could be established (n = 27; 33% decreasing, 56% stable, 11% increasing). Statistical analysis indicates there is no evidence that the distribution of median concentration reductions after the first year of posttreatment monitoring was different than the distribution of median reductions 2 to 11 years later at the end of the monitoring period (p = 0.67). Similarly, statistical analysis indicates that there is no evidence that the distribution of median reductions for a larger set of sites (n = 84) with less than 3 years of posttreatment monitoring data (1.1 OoM; 92% reduction) was different than the distribution of median OoM reductions for the 34‐site dataset with longer monitoring periods (p = 0.80). This suggests that, at a typical site, a 3‐year monitoring period should be sufficient for evaluating performance. The results of this study indicate that, in the long term, after the end of active treatment, sustained treatment processes contribute to relatively modest concentration reductions but do mitigate rebound at the majority of EAB sites.     

Groundwater Quality Impacts from a Full‐Scale Integrated Constructed Wetland

The concept of integrated constructed wetlands (ICW) promotes in‐situ soils to construct and line wetland cells. The integrity of soil material, however, may provide a potential pathway for contaminants to flow into the underlying groundwater. This study assessed the extent of groundwater quality deterioration due to the establishment of a full‐scale ICW system treating domestic wastewater in Ireland. The ICW is located at Glaslough in Co. Monaghan, Ireland. It consists of two sedimentation ponds and a sequence of five shallow vegetated wetland cells. The ICW cells were lined with 500‐mm thick local subsoil material, which comprised a mixture of alluvium, organic soils, tills, and gravel. Groundwater samples and head data were collected from eight piezometers, which were installed around the ICW cells. The groundwater and wetland water samples were analysed for water quality parameters such as bulk organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens. Overall, the quality of groundwater underlying the ICW system recorded some contamination with bulk organic matter and some inorganic nutrients. Significantly higher contaminant concentrations were recorded in monitoring wells upgradient and near to the distal wetland cells than downgradient ones, which were near to the proximal cells. For the downgradient piezometers, concentrations seldomly exceeded the natural background levels. Detailed analyses through the application of chemometrics models indicated that the source of contamination was largely of geogenic origin. Findings suggest that ICW systems pose a minimal risk to the groundwater quality; the greatest risk was associated with the distal wetland cells.     

阳澄湖若干水质资料的分析与评价

根据１９９４年５月于阳澄湖湖区７个采样点水质分析结果,表明湖水中矿化度较高,硬度较大,主要离子以ＨＣＯ３＾－,Ｎａ＾＋为主,分别占阴阳离子摩尔总数的５７．６１％、６３．９％。湖水水型西湖、中湖为重碳酸盐钠组Ⅰ型,东湖为重碳酸盐钠组Ⅱ型水。湖水中Ｎ、Ｐ营养元素丰富,ＮＨ３－Ｎ、ＮＯ２－Ｎ指标与７０年代相比明显增高,表明水体已曹室不程度地轻污染。     

Field Study of Enhanced TCE Reductive Dechlorination by a Full‐Scale Whey PRB

This study evaluates the efficiency of a full‐scale, 81 m‐wide permeable reactive barrier (PRB) configured by injection of dairy whey in the downgradient region of a contaminant source zone to enhance the in situ biodegradation of high concentrations (10² to 10³μg/L) of chlorinated ethenes (CEs). Ten biannual whey injections were completed in a 3.5‐year pilot phase and 1.5‐year operational phase. Improved and sustained dechlorination was observed at extraction/injection and downgradient wells in the fully‐operational phase, when dried whey masses were increased from 13.6 kg to 230–360 kg, whey slurry volumes were increased from 2300 L to 307,000–480,000 L, and extraction/injection well loops were employed for the application of whey. At extraction/injection wells, CEs decreased to low (≤10 μg/L) or undetectable levels. At downgradient wells, average trichloroethene concentrations decreased, by as much as 100% (from ≤384.2 during the pilot phase to ≤102.6 μg/L during the operational phase), while average cis‐dichloroethene concentrations decreased by as much as 57.5% (from ≤6466.1 to ≤4912.2 μg/L). Downgradient vinyl chloride averages either increased by as much as 63.8% (from ≤859.6 to ≤1407.9 μg/L) or decreased by 64.0% (from 1375.4 to 880 μg/L). Downgradient ethene + ethane averages increased by as much as 73.2% (from ≤1145.3 to ≤1347.1 μg/L). On the basis of the 2008 average market price, the estimated material cost of whey is $1.96/kg organic carbon or, for the configuration of an 81 m PRB by biannual application of 300 kg whey, $325/year. Carbon substrate cost comparisons and implications for efficient in situ treatment design are discussed.     

泉水和井水温度长期观测资料的初步统计

依据中国地震台网中心前兆数据库中的水温数据,绘制了中国大陆用于地震监测预报的泉水温度分布图以及井下50—149m和150—250m的水温分布图,统计了人工和数字化观测水温中长期趋势性上升或下降的测点,分析了数字化观测水温长期趋势性变化的原因。结果表明,泉主要分布在川滇、青藏高原东北缘、中天山、郯庐断裂带及邻区、北京西北和福建沿海等地,这些泉与断裂构造具有较好的空间相关性;其中水温大于25℃的温泉多分布在中强地震多发区;井水温度的空间分布具有北方地区水温低于南方地区、小区域内的温差不显著等特征,其主要受控于气候因素;井下150—250m与50—149m水温相比,符合随深度增加水温升高的地热规律;人工观测水温中10%为客观的长期趋势性变化;数字化观测水温中24%为长期趋势性变化,其中一部分是水温的客观反映,另一部分是水温仪零飘的反映。