Long-Term Evaluation of Mulch Biowall Performance to Treat Chlorinated Solvents

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), such as mulch biowalls, have been installed at numerous groundwater cleanup sites, and laboratory and field studies have demonstrated biotic and abiotic processes that degrade chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in groundwater passing through these engineered remedies. However, the longevity of mulch biowalls remains a fundamental research question. Soil and groundwater sampling at seven mulch biowalls at Altus Air Force Base (AFB) approximately 10 years after installation demonstrated the ongoing degradation of CVOCs. Trichloroethene was not detected in five of seven groundwater samples collected from the biowall despite upgradient detections above federal drinking water standards. Microbial sampling established the presence of key dechlorinating bacteria and the abundance of genes encoding specific enzymes for degradation, high methane concentrations, low sulfate concentrations, and negative oxidation-reduction potential, all indicative of highly reducing conditions within the biowalls and favorable conditions for CVOC destruction via microbial reductive dechlorination. High cellulose content (>79%) of the mulch, elevated total organic carbon (TOC) content in groundwater, and elevated potentially bioavailable organic carbon (PBOC) measurements in soil samples further supports an ongoing, long-lived source of carbon. These results demonstrate the ongoing and long-term efficacy of the mulch biowalls at Altus AFB. In addition, concentrations of bacteria, TOC, PBOC, and other geochemical parameters suggest a modest impact of the biowalls downgradient. The continued presence of CVOCs downgradient may be attributable to back diffusion from low-permeability shale. However, the biowalls continue to provide benefits by removing CVOCs in groundwater, thus reducing further CVOC loading to the downgradient, low-permeability strata.     

Estimation of Interstitial Velocity Using a Direct Drive High-Resolution Passive Profiler

The fate and transport of groundwater contaminants depends partially on groundwater velocity, which can vary appreciably in highly stratified aquifers. A high-resolution passive profiler (HRPP) was developed to evaluate groundwater velocity, contaminant concentrations, and microbial community structure at ∼20 cm vertical depth resolution in shallow heterogeneous aquifers. The objective of this study was to use mass transfer of bromide (Br⁻), a conservative tracer released from cells in the HRPP, to estimate interstitial velocity. Laboratory experiments were conducted to empirically relate velocity and the mass transfer coefficient of Br⁻ based on the relative loss of Br⁻ from HRPP cells. Laboratory-scale HRPPs were deployed in flow boxes containing saturated soils with differing porosities, and the mass transfer coefficient of Br⁻ was measured at multiple interstitial velocities (0 to 100 cm/day). A two-dimensional (2D) quasi-steady-state model was used to relate velocity to mass transfer of Br⁻ for a range of soil porosities (0.2–0.5). The laboratory data indicate that the mass transfer coefficient of Br⁻, which was directly—but non-linearly—related to velocity, can be determined with a single 3-week deployment of the HRPP. The mass transfer coefficient was relatively unaffected by sampler orientation, length of deployment time, or porosity. The model closely simulated the experimental results. The data suggest that the HRPP will be applicable for estimating groundwater velocity ranging from 1 to 100 cm/day in the field at a minimum depth resolution of 10 cm, depending on sampler design.     

Chlorinated Solvent Source‐Zone Remediation via ZVI‐Clay Soil Mixing: 1‐Year Results

ZVI‐Clay is an emerging remediation approach that combines zero‐valent iron (ZVI)‐mediated degradation and in situ stabilization of chlorinated solvents. Through use of in situ soil mixing to deliver reagents, reagent‐contaminant contact issues associated with natural subsurface heterogeneity are overcome. This article describes implementation, treatment performance, and reaction kinetics during the first year after application of the ZVI‐Clay remediation approach at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Primary contaminants included trichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane, and related natural degradation products. For the field application, 22,900 m³ of soils were treated to an average depth of 7.6 m with 2% ZVI and 3% sodium bentonite (dry weight basis). Performance monitoring included analysis of soil and water samples. After 1 year, total concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) in soil samples were decreased by site‐wide average and median values of 97% and >99%, respectively. Total CVOC concentrations in groundwater were reduced by average and median values of 81% and >99%, respectively. In several of the soil and groundwater monitoring locations, reductions in total CVOC concentrations of greater than 99.9% were apparent. Further reduction in concentrations of chlorinated solvents is expected with time. Pre‐ and post‐mixing average hydraulic conductivity values were 1.7 × 10^?5 and 5.2 × 10^?8 m/s, respectively, indicating a reduction of about 2.5 orders of magnitude. By achieving simultaneous contaminant mass depletion and hydraulic conductivity reduction, contaminant flux reductions of several orders of magnitude are predicted.     

Evaluation of vertical variations in hydraulic conductivity in unconsolidated sediments

Detailed information on vertical variations in hydraulic conductivity (K) is essential to describe the dynamics of groundwater movement at contaminated sites or as input data used for modeling. K values in high vertical resolution should be determined because K tends to be more continuous in the horizontal than in the vertical direction. To determine K in shallow unconsolidated sediments and in the vertical direction, the recently developed direct-push injection logger can be used. The information obtained by this method serves as a proxy for K and has to be calibrated to obtain quantitative K values of measured vertical profiles. In this study, we performed direct-push soil sampling, sieve analyses and direct-push slug tests to obtain K values in vertical high resolution. Using the results of direct-push slug tests, quantitative K values obtained by the direct-push injection logger could be determined successfully. The results of sieve analyses provided lower accordance with the logs due to the inherent limitations of the sieving method.     

Utility of Compound‐Specific Isotope Analysis for Vapor Intrusion Investigations

Different types of data can be collected to evaluate whether or not vapor intrusion is a concern at sites impacted with volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination in the subsurface. Typically, groundwater, soil gas, or indoor air samples are collected to determine VOC concentrations in the different media. Sample results are evaluated using a “multiple lines of evidence” approach to interpret whether vapor intrusion is occurring. Data interpretation is often not straightforward because of many complicating factors, particularly in the evaluation of indoor air. More often than not, indoor air sample results are affected by indoor or other background sources making interpretation of concentration‐based data difficult using conventional sampling approaches. In this study, we explored the practicality of compound‐specific isotope analysis (CSIA) as an additional type of evidence to distinguish between indoor sources and subsurface sources (i.e., vapor intrusion). We developed a guide for decision‐making to facilitate data interpretation and applied the guidelines at four different test buildings. To evaluate the effectiveness of the CSIA method for vapor intrusion applications, we compared the interpretation from CSIA to interpretations based on data from two different investigation approaches: conventional sampling and on‐site GC/MS analysis. Interpretations using CSIA were found to be generally consistent with the other approaches. In one case, CSIA provided the strongest line of evidence that vapor intrusion was not occurring and that a VOC source located inside the building was the source of VOCs in indoor air.     

Fingerprinting TCE in a bedrock aquifer using compound-specific isotope analysis

A dual isotope approach based on compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) of carbon (C) and chlorine (Cl) was used to identify sources of persistent trichloroethylene (TCE) that caused the shut-down in 1994 of a municipal well in an extensive fractured dolostone aquifer beneath Guelph, Ontario. Several nearby industrial properties have known subsurface TCE contamination; however, only one has created a comprehensive monitoring network in the bedrock. The impacted municipal well and many monitoring wells were sampled for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), inorganic parameters, and CSIA. A wide range in isotope values was observed at the study site. The TCE varies between -35.6‰ and -21.8‰ and from 1.6‰ to 3.2‰ for δ(13) C and δ(37) Cl, respectively. In case of cis-1,2-dichloroethene, the isotope values range between -36.3‰ and -18.9‰ and from 2.4‰ to 4.7‰ for δ(13) C and δ(37) Cl, respectively. The dual isotope approach represented by a plot of δ(13) C vs. δ(37) Cl shows the municipal well samples grouped in a domain clearly separate from all other samples from the property with the comprehensive well network. The CSIA results collected under non-pumping and short-term pumping conditions thus indicate that this particular property, which has been studied intensively for several years, is not a substantial contributor of the TCE presently in the municipal well under non-pumping conditions. This case study demonstrates that CSIA signatures would have been useful much earlier in the quest to examine sources of the TCE in the municipal well if bedrock monitoring wells had been located at several depths beneath each of the potential TCE-contributing properties. Moreover, the CSIA results show that microbial reductive dechlorination of TCE occurs in some parts of the bedrock aquifer. At this site, the use of CSIA for C and Cl in combination with analyses of VOC and redox parameters proved to be important due to the complexity introduced by biodegradation in the complex fractured rock aquifer. It is highly recommended to revisit the study when the municipal well is back into full operation.     

On‐Site Vapor‐Phase Analysis as a Novel Approach for Monitoring Groundwater Wells

The results of comprehensive field testing of on‐site vapor‐phase‐based groundwater monitoring methods are presented to demonstrate their utility as a robust and cost‐effective approach for rapidly obtaining volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration data from a monitoring well. These methods—which rely on sensitive, commercially available field equipment to analyze vapor in equilibrium with groundwater—proved easy to implement and can be tailored to site‐specific needs, including multilevel sampling. During field testing, low‐flow groundwater concentrations could be reasonably estimated using submerged passive vapor diffusion samplers or field equilibration of collected groundwater (R² = 0.85 to 0.96). These two methods are not as reliant on in‐well mixing to overcome vertical stratification within wells as simpler headspace methods. The importance of well and aquifer‐specific factors on concentration data (and therefore method selection) is highlighted, including the effect of changing in‐well patterns due to seasonal temperature gradients. Results indicated that vertical stratification was relatively limited within the set of wells included in these studies, resulting in similar performance for short depth‐discrete passive vapor diffusion samplers (constructed from 40‐mL vials) and longer samplers (2.5 to 5 feet in length) designed to cover a larger portion of the screened interval. A year‐long, multi‐event evaluation demonstrated that vapor‐phase‐based monitoring methods are no more variable than conventional groundwater monitoring methods, with both types subject to similar spatial and temporal variability that can be difficult to reduce. Vapor sampling methods represent a promising approach for estimation of groundwater concentrations by reducing the cost liabilities associated with monitoring while providing a more sustainable approach.     

Permeability profiles in granular aquifers using flowmeters in direct-push wells

Numerical hydrogeological models should ideally be based on the spatial distribution of hydraulic conductivity (K), a property rarely defined on the basis of sufficient data due to the lack of efficient characterization methods. Electromagnetic borehole flowmeter measurements during pumping in uncased wells can effectively provide a continuous vertical distribution of K in consolidated rocks. However, relatively few studies have used the flowmeter in screened wells penetrating unconsolidated aquifers, and tests conducted in gravel-packed wells have shown that flowmeter data may yield misleading results. This paper describes the practical application of flowmeter profiles in direct-push wells to measure K and delineate hydrofacies in heterogeneous unconsolidated aquifers having low-to-moderate K (10(-6) to 10(-4) m/s). The effect of direct-push well installation on K measurements in unconsolidated deposits is first assessed based on the previous work indicating that such installations minimize disturbance to the aquifer fabric. The installation and development of long-screen wells are then used in a case study validating K profiles from flowmeter tests at high-resolution intervals (15 cm) with K profiles derived from multilevel slug tests between packers at identical intervals. For 119 intervals tested in five different wells, the difference in log K values obtained from the two methods is consistently below 10%. Finally, a graphical approach to the interpretation of flowmeter profiles is proposed to delineate intervals corresponding to distinct hydrofacies, thus providing a method whereby both the scale and magnitude of K contrasts in heterogeneous unconsolidated aquifers may be represented.     

Hydraulic Performance of the Horizontal Reactive Media Treatment Well: Pilot and Numerical Study

This study is focused on a passive treatment system known as the horizontal reactive treatment well (HRX Well®) installed parallel to groundwater flow, which operates on the principle of flow focusing that results from the hydraulic conductivity (K) ratio of the well and aquifer media. Passive flow and capture in the HRX Well are described by simplified equations adapted from Darcy's Law. A field pilot-scale study (PSS) and numerical simulations using a finite element method (FEM) were conducted to verify the HRX Well concept and test the validity of the HRX Well-simplified equations. The hydraulic performance results from both studies were observed to be within a close agreement to the simplified equations and their hydraulic capture width approximately five times greater than the well diameter (0.20 m). Key parameters affecting capture included the aquifer thickness, well diameter, and permeability ratio of the HRX Well treatment media and aquifer material. During pilot testing, the HRX Well captured 39% of flow while representing 0.5% of the test pit cross-sectional volume, indicating that the well captures a substantial amount of surrounding groundwater. While uncertainty in the aquifer and well properties (porosity, K, well losses), including the effects of boundary conditions, may have caused minor differences in the results, data from this study indicate that the simplified equations are valid for the conceptual design of a field study. A full-scale HRX Well was installed at Site SS003 at Vanderberg Air Force Base, California, in July/August 2018 based on outcomes from this study.     

Near-bed mass flux profiles in aeolian sand transport: high-resolution measurements in a wind tunnel

Vertical profiles of the streamwise mass flux of blown sand in the near-bed (< 17 mm) region are analysed from high-resolution measurements made using an optical sensor in a wind tunnel. This analysis is complemented by detailed measurements of mass flux and mean velocity profiles throughout the boundary layer depth (0·17 m) using passive, chambered sand traps of small dimensions and armoured thermal anemometers, respectively. The data permit a preliminary analysis of the relations between the observed forms of the profiles of near-bed fluid stress and horizontal mass flux within a carefully conditioned boundary layer. Profiles of mass flux density are found to be characterized by three regions of differing gradient with transitions at about 2 mm and 19 mm above the bed. The exponential decay of mass flux with height is confirmed for elevations above 19 mm, and when plotted as a function of u_*²/g (a parameter of mean vertical trajectory height in saltation), the gradient of mass flux in this region scales with the wake-corrected friction velocity (u), where u > 0·30 m s⁻¹. A separate near-bed region of more intense transport below 19 mm is identified which carries 80 per cent of the total mass flux. This region is evident in some previous field and wind tunnel data but not in profiles simulated by numerical models. Ventilated passive sand traps underestimate mass flux in this region by 37 per cent. At slow or moderate wind speeds a third significant region below 2 mm is observed. These regions are likely to be related to grain populations in successive saltation, low-energy ejections and intermittent bed contact, respectively. Optical measurements reveal locally high grain concentrations at some elevations below 5 mm; these heights scale with transport rate, mass flux gradient and wind speed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Limitations of ROI Testing for Venting Design: Description of an Alternative Approach Based on Attainment of a Critical Pore-Gas Velocity in Contaminated Media

We utilize data from a Superfund site where radius of influence (ROI) testing was conducted in support of a venting design to describe limitations of ROI evaluation in more detail than has been done previously, and to propose an alternative method of design based on specification and attainment of a critical pore-gas velocity in contaminated subsurface media. Since accurate gas permeability estimation is critical to pore-gas velocity computation, we assess the usefulness of ROI testing data on estimation of radial permeability, vertical permeability, and leakance. We apply information from published studies on rate-limited vapor transport to provide the basis for selection of a critical design pore-gas velocity for soils at this site. Using single-well gas flow simulations, we evaluate whether this critical pore-gas velocity was achieved at measured ROIs. We then conduct a series of multi-well gas flow simulations to assess how variation in anisotropy and leakance affect three-dimensional vacuum and pore-gas velocity profiles and determination of an ROI. Finally, when attempting to achieve a critical design pore-gas velocity we evaluate whether it is more efficient to install additional wells or pump existing wells at a higher flow rate.     

Sulfate Land Application Enhances Biodegradation in a Petroleum Hydrocarbon Smear Zone

Delivery of sulfate to petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) source zones and groundwater plumes is desirable to enhance biodegradation rates when treatment has become limited due to depletion of sulfate. Sulfate land application involves spreading sulfate salts on ground surface and allowing their dissolution and infiltration of sulfate into subsurface. The objectives of this pilot-scale investigation were to capture the vertical transport of sulfate beneath an application area, confirm that sulfate reduction was occurring, and explore how the added sulfate affected biodegradation of benzene and toluene. Approximately 4000 kg of gypsum was spread over a 30 m × 30 m study area above a smear zone located approximately 2 m below-ground surface. Precipitation was augmented by two irrigation events. Groundwater samples, collected over 1058 days from multilevel wells and a conventional long-screened monitoring well, were analyzed for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), sulfate, bromide, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and methane. Compound-specific isotope analyses (CSIA) for benzene and toluene, and isotope analyses of ¹³C-DIC and ³⁴S-SO₄²⁻ were performed. Following application, an increase in sulfate concentration was noted in the smear zone. ³⁴S-SO₄²⁻ enrichment and ¹³C-DIC depletion indicated that sulfate reduction and mineralization of PHCs were enhanced. CSIA results provided unequivocal evidence of anaerobic biodegradation of benzene and toluene. After 1058 days when sulfate was depleted, methane concentrations were about three times greater than baseline conditions suggesting syntrophic benefit of the delivered sulfate. Observations from this investigation support the viability of sulfate land application to enhance biodegradation rates in shallow PHC smear zones.     

Grain Size Analysis and Permeametry for Estimating Hydraulic Conductivity in Engineered Porous Media

Grain size analysis and permeametry are common methods for estimating the hydraulic conductivity (K) of porous media. It is well known that these methods have limited accuracy when they are used to characterize natural sediments. However, hydrogeological research has increasingly introduced technologies dependent on engineered porous media that may be less problematic because complex geologic structures are eliminated in the lab and field-scale packings. The recently introduced Horizontal Reactive Media Treatment Wells (HRX® Wells), for in situ, passive remediation of groundwater is one such example. The HRX Well passively collects groundwater and directs it through a horizontal pipe packed with an engineered porous medium. In this project, grain size analysis was conducted for sand and sand-iron mixtures to estimate K using the 16 algorithms provided in the HydrogeoSieveXL2.3.2 software. The results were compared to K determined by permeametry and a field-scale column, 30 cm long and 25 cm in diameter, representing an HRX Well. The best comparability of K estimates from grain size analysis and permeametry were obtained using the USBR, Slichter, and Shepherd K estimation methods. These also showed good agreement between lab-scale and field-scale K estimations, with reproducibility within the range ±20%. This study shows that laboratory K estimations can be representative across various relevant scales, including the field-scale, for engineered porous media. This finding extends to filter packs, and other engineered porous media design methods by emphasizing and demonstrating one case of accuracy in lab-scale permeability estimation for field-scale implementations.     

Membrane Interface Probe Protocol for Contaminants in Low‐Permeability Zones

Accurate characterization of contaminant mass in zones of low hydraulic conductivity (low k) is essential for site management because this difficult‐to‐treat mass can be a long‐term secondary source. This study developed a protocol for the membrane interface probe (MIP) as a low‐cost, rapid data‐acquisition tool for qualitatively evaluating the location and relative distribution of mass in low‐k zones. MIP operating parameters were varied systematically at high and low concentration locations at a contaminated site to evaluate the impact of the parameters on data quality relative to a detailed adjacent profile of soil concentrations. Evaluation of the relative location of maximum concentrations and the shape of the MIP vs. soil profiles led to a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the MIP to delineate contamination in low‐k zones. This includes recommendations for: (1) preferred detector (ECD for low concentration zones, PID or ECD for higher concentration zones); (2) combining downlogged and uplogged data to reduce carryover; and (3) higher carrier gas flow rate in high concentration zones. Linear regression indicated scatter in all MIP‐to‐soil comparisons, including R² values using the SOP of 0.32 in the low concentration boring and 0.49 in the high concentration boring. In contrast, a control dataset with soil‐to‐soil correlations from borings 1‐m apart exhibited an R² of ≥0.88, highlighting the uncertainty in predicting soil concentrations using MIP data. This study demonstrates that the MIP provides lower‐precision contaminant distribution and heterogeneity data compared to more intensive high‐resolution characterization methods. This is consistent with its use as a complementary screening tool.     

A New Parameter Estimation Method for Solute Transport in a Column

To study contaminant transport in groundwater, an essential requirement is robust and accurate estimation of the transport parameters such as dispersion coefficient. The commonly used inverse error function method (IEFM) may cause unacceptable errors in dispersion coefficient estimation using the breakthrough curves (BTCs) data. We prove that the random error in the measured concentrations, which might be described by a normal distribution, would no longer follow the normal distribution after the IEFM transformation. In this study, we proposed a new method using the weighted least squares method (WLSM) to estimate the dispersion coefficient and velocity of groundwater. The weights were calculated based on the slope of the observed BTCs. We tested the new method against other methods such as genetic algorithm and CXTFIT program and found great agreement. This new method acknowledged different characteristics of solute transport at early, intermediate, and late time stages and divided BTCs into three sections for analysis. The developed method was applied to interpret three column tracer experiments by introducing continuous, constant‐concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl) into columns filled with sand, gravel, and sand‐gravel media. This study showed that IEFM performed well only when the observed data points were located in the linear (intermediate time) section of BTCs; it performed poorly when data points were in the early and late time stages. The new WLSM method, however, performed well for data points scattering over the entire BTCs and appeared promising in parameter estimation for solute transport in a column.     

Field Investigation of Vapor‐Phase‐Based Groundwater Monitoring

The use of in‐field analysis of vapor‐phase samples to provide real‐time volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in groundwater has the potential to streamline monitoring by simplifying the sample collection and analysis process. A field validation program was completed to (1) evaluate methods for collection of vapor samples from monitoring wells and (2) evaluate the accuracy and precision of field‐portable instruments for the analysis of vapor‐phase samples. The field program evaluated three vapor‐phase sample collection methods: (1) headspace samples from two locations within the well, (2) passive vapor diffusion (PVD) samplers placed at the screened interval of the well, and (3) field vapor headspace analysis of groundwater samples. Two types of instruments were tested: a field‐portable gas chromatograph (GC) and a photoionization detector (PID). Field GC analysis of PVD samples showed no bias and good correlation to laboratory analysis of groundwater collected by low‐flow sampling (slope = 0.96, R² = 0.85) and laboratory analysis of passive water diffusion bag samples from the well screen (slope = 1.03; R² = 0.96). Field GC analysis of well headspace samples, either from the upper portion of the well or at the water‐vapor interface, resulted in higher variability and much poorer correlation (consistently biased low) relative to laboratory analysis of groundwater samples collected by low‐flow sample or passive diffusion bags (PDBs) (slope = 0.69 to 0.76; R² = 0.60 to 0.64). These results indicate that field analysis of vapor‐phase samples can be used to obtain accurate measurements of VOC concentrations in groundwater. However, vapor samples collected from the well headspace were not in equilibrium with water collected from the well screen. Instead, PVD samplers placed in the screened interval represent the most promising approach for field‐based measurement of groundwater concentrations using vapor monitoring techniques and will be the focus of further field testing.     

The Hydraulic Profiling Tool for Hydrogeologic Investigation of Unconsolidated Formations

The hydraulic profiling tool (HPT) has become one of the basic tools for investigation of soils and unconsolidated formations over the last 10 years. The HPT is advanced into the subsurface using direct push methods. Clean water is injected into the formation from a small screened port on the side of the probe as it is steadily advanced into the subsurface. A downhole pressure sensor detects the pressure required to inject the water into the formation while an up-hole flowmeter monitors the water flow rate. An electrical conductivity (EC) array included in the lower end of the probe provides a simultaneous EC log of the bulk formation. The EC log, HPT pressure, and flow rate are logged and displayed onscreen as the probe is advanced. These logs enable the investigator to evaluate vertical changes in relative formation permeability at high resolution. Pressure dissipation tests may be performed at selected depths in coarse-grained materials to determine the piezometric pressure in saturated formations. This enables the operator to define the piezometric profile and determine the piezometric surface without a well. Post processing of the log in the viewing software provides for calculation of the corrected HPT pressure (Pc) and estimation of hydraulic conductivity (Est. K) within limits (~0.1 to 75 ft/d). In clean, coarse-grained materials the tandem EC log may be used to estimate groundwater specific conductance based on an Archie's Law model. Cross sections of HPT logs provide an efficient means to define hydrostratigraphy. When combined with contaminant logging tools such as the membrane interface probe (MIP) the HPT data may help to define contaminant migration pathways or contaminated low permeability zones that may result in back diffusion. The HPT can be a useful tool for many geoenvironmental investigations in unconsolidated formations.     

Illuminating Subsurface Microbial Water Quality Patterns Using Adenosine Triphosphate and Dynamic Time Warping Approaches

Aquifer microbial water quality evaluations are often performed by collecting groundwater samples from monitoring wells. While samples collected from continuously pumped sources are seldom disputed as representative of the aquifer, natural biofilm present in the vicinity of well screens may introduce unwanted microbial artefacts in monitoring wells that are only periodically sampled. The need for well water purging to obtain samples void of these artefacts has been widely recognized. However, purging methods are not standardized; many approaches presume that physico-chemical water quality stability achieved through the removal of 3 to 5 well volumes is indicative of the stability of target analytes. Using a data set collected from a shallow unconfined aquifer in Southern Ontario, Canada, the need for using dedicated approaches that account for the time-dependent nature of microbial water quality changes was demonstrated. Specifically, the utility of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a rapid, field-ready biochemical indicator of microbial water quality stability was investigated. This work shows that ATP concentrations reflect time-limited (bio)colloid transport processes that are consistent with other microbial water quality parameters monitored, but different from commonly measured physical and chemical water quality indicators of well purging adequacy. ATP concentrations occasionally fluctuated even after 3 or 4 h of purging, indicating that microbial artefacts attributable to biofilms in the vicinity of the well screen can still persist. The recurrence of characteristic ATP patterns in each well was systematically examined through the novel application of dynamic time warping (DTW), a nonparametric time series analysis approach. These patterns are believed to be linked with seasonal hydrogeological conditions, which warrant consideration in the design and interpretation of subsurface microbial water quality investigations.     

Modelling combined open channel flow by artificial neural networks

Combined open channel flow is encountered in many hydraulic engineering structures and processes, such as irrigation ditches and wastewater treatment facilities. Extensive experimental studies have conducted to investigate combined flow characteristics. Nevertheless, there is no simple relationship that can fully describe the velocity profiles in a turbulent flow. The artificial neural network (ANN) has great computational capability for solving various complex problems, such as function approximation. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the applicability of the ANN for simulating velocity profiles, velocity contours and estimating the discharges accordingly. The velocity profiles measured by an acoustic doppler velocimeter in the open channel of the Chihtan purification plant, Taipei, with different discharges at fixed measuring section and different depths are presented. The total number of data sets is 640 and the data sets are split into two subsets, i.e. training and validation sets. The backpropagation algorithm is used to construct the neural network. The results demonstrate that the velocity profiles can be modelled by the ANN, and the ANN constructed can nicely fit the velocity profiles and can precisely predict the discharges for the conditions investigated. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Tracer Test to Characterize Treatment of TCE in a Permeable Reactive Barrier

A tracer test was conducted to characterize the flow of groundwater across a permeable reactive barrier constructed with plant mulch (a biowall) at the OU‐1 site on Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. This biowall is intended to intercept and treat groundwater contaminated by trichloroethylene (TCE) in a shallow aquifer. The biowall is 139‐m long, 7.3‐m deep, and 0.5‐m wide. Bromide was injected from an upgradient well into the groundwater as a conservative tracer, and was subsequently observed breaking through in monitoring wells within and downgradient of the biowall. The bromide breakthrough data demonstrate that groundwater entering the biowall migrated across it, following the slope of the local groundwater surface. The average seepage velocity of groundwater was approximately 0.06 m/d. On the basis of the Darcy velocity of groundwater and geometry of the biowall, the average residence time of groundwater in the biowall was estimated at 10 d. Assuming all TCE removal occurred in the biowall, the reduction in TCE concentrations in groundwater across the biowall corresponds to a first‐order attenuation rate constant in the range of 0.38 to 0.15 per d. As an independent estimate of the degradation rate constant, STANMOD software was used to fit curves through data on the breakthrough of bromide and TCE in selected wells downgradient of the injection wells. Best fits to the data required a first‐order degradation rate constant for TCE removal in the range of 0.13 to 0.17 per d. The approach used in this study provides an objective evaluation of the remedial performance of the biowall that can provide a basis for design of other biowalls that are intended to remediate TCE‐contaminated groundwater.