Vadose Zone Monitoring: Experiences and Trends in the United States |
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| Authors: | Stephen J Cullen |
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| Institution: | Stephen J. Cullen;, M.S., is a principal scientist at Geraghty and Miller (5425 Hollister, Ste. 100, Santa Barbara, CA 93111) and a hydrologic specialist at the Institute for Crustal Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he specializes in subsurface hydrology, soil science, and the development of vadose zone characterization and monitoring techniques. He directs a wide range of vadose zone characterization, monitoring, and remediation projects in both a research and applied field environment. In addition to directing investigations and providing litigation support on subsurface DNAPL contaminant characterization and remediation, landfill monitoring system design, contaminant source-tracking, natural remediation, laboratory column studies, and computer-aided contaminant flow and transport analysis, he has published numerous technical papers on the subject and holds several patents. He is a principal editor and author of the Handbook of Vadose Zone Monitoring and Characterization. |
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| Abstract: | The vadose zone is the portion of the geologic profile above a perennial aquifer. Inclusion of mandatory vadose zone monitoring techniques as an approach to aquifer protect ion was first proposed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in the United States in 1978 and has since received increasing acceptance at federal and stale levels. The goals of a vadose zone characterization and monitoring effort are to establish background conditions, identify contaminant transport pathways, identify the extent and degree of existing contamination, establish the basis for monitoring network design, measure the parameters needed in a risk assessment, and provide detection of contaminant migration toward ground water resources. The benefits of vadose zone monitoring include early warning of contaminant migration, potential reduction of ground water monitoring efforts, reduction of contaminant spreading and volume, and reduced time and cost of remediation once a contaminant release occurs. Vadose zone characterization and monitoring techniques should be considered as critical hydrologic tools in the prevention of ground water resource degradation. |
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