Modeling Study to Quantify the Benefits of Groundwater Contaminant Source Remediation

<p>The purpose of this research was to quantify the benefits of groundwater contaminant source remediation by using a model to simulate how reduction of source mass was related to reduction of contaminant concentration at a receptor. Specifically this thesis sought to answer three research questions: (1) how are contaminant source mass reduction and reduction of mass flux leaving the source-zone related; (2) how can we quantify the effect of the important natural attenuation processes that act upon the dissolved contaminant as it travels from the source zone to downgradient receptors and (3) under specified site conditions what is the maximum contaminant flux leaving a source-zone that natural attenuation can effectively degrade to achieve a concentration goal at a receptor. The research questions were answered through a comprehensive literature review and the use of Groundwater Modeling Software (GMS 5.1) to model an actual tetrachloroethene (PCE) contaminated site at Dover AFB Delaware. Using actual hydrogeologic and contaminant conditions at the site a power function was applied to determine the relationship between source mass reduction and contaminant flux reduction while the advection-dispersion equation with biodegradation source/sink terms to model PCE decay coupled to daughter product production was utilized to model the effects of natural attenuation on dissolved chlorinated ethene fate and transport.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>