Evaluation of deep vadose zone contaminant flux into groundwater: Approach and case study
Not Available
Oostrom, M.↗
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Persistence of chromate in vadose zone and aquifer sediments in Hanford, Washington
Not Available
Szecsody, Jim E.↗
Geophysical Monitoring of Foam used to Deliver Remediation Treatments within the Vadose Zone
Foam is a promising vehicle for delivering amendments into the vadose zone for in situ remediation; it is an approach being considered for in situ treatment and stabilization of metals and radionuclides located within the deep vadose zone of the Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford site, WA. A central aspect of evaluating the effectiveness of this approach is the ability to monitor foam distribution, its transformation, and the reactions that it induces in the subsurface, ideally in a non-invasive manner. In this study, we performed laboratory experiments to evaluate the potential of geophysical methods (complex resistivity and time domain reflectometry, TDR) as tools for monitoring foam assisted amendment delivery in the deep vadose zone. Our results indicated great sensitivity of electrical methods to foam transportation and evolution in unsaturated porous media that were related to foam bubble coalescence and drainage processes. Specifically, we observed (1) a decrease of electrical resistivity (increase of electrical conductivity) by over an order of magnitude in both silica sand and natural sediment matrices during foam transportation; (2) an increase of resistivity (decrease of conductivity) by over two fold during foam coalescence and drainage; (3) a distinct phase and imaginary conductivity signature related to the evolution of water films on sediment grains during foam injection and evolution processes. To assist with the interpretation of these data, TDR measurements were used to monitor moisture content, which provided complementary information about foam distribution and drainage. Our results clearly demonstrated the sensitivity of electrical and TDR signals to foam transportation and evolution in unsaturated porous media and suggested the potential of these methods for monitoring the response of a system to foam based remediation treatments at field scales.
Hanford↗
Deep Vadose Zone Respiration Contributions to Carbon Dioxide Fluxes from a Semiarid Floodplain
Core Ideas A significant fraction of CO 2 fluxes from a semiarid floodplain originates from below the root zone. Measured and calculated field CO 2 fluxes are consistent. Laboratory‐measured respiration rates are consistent with field results. Although CO 2 fluxes from soils are often assumed to originate within shallow soil horizons (<1‐m depth), relatively little is known about respiration rates at greater depths. We compared measured and calculated CO 2 fluxes at the Rifle floodplain along the Colorado River and measured CO 2 production rates of floodplain sediments to determine the relative importance of deeper vadose zone respiration. Calculations based on measured CO 2 gradients and estimated effective diffusion coefficients yielded fluxes that are generally consistent with measurements obtained at the soil surface (326 g C m −2 yr −1 ). Carbon dioxide production from the 2.0‐ to 3.5‐m depth interval was calculated to contribute 17% of the total floodplain respiration, with rates that were larger than some parts of the shallower vadose zone and underlying aquifer. Microbial respiration rates determined from laboratory incubation tests of the sediments support this conclusion. The deeper unsaturated zone typically maintains intermediate water and air saturations, lacks extreme temperatures and salinities, and is annually resupplied with organic carbon from snowmelt‐driven recharge and by water table decline. This combination of favorable conditions supports deeper unsaturated zone microbial respiration throughout the year.
Tokunaga, Tetsu K.↗
Analyzing Recharge Dynamics and Storage in a Thick, Karstic Vadose Zone
Karst vadose zone heterogeneity creates complex transmission and storage dynamics that affect the timing and magnitude of aquifer recharge. Young, high-matrix permeability eogenetic karst aquifers may have significantly higher matrix storage than older, lower matrix permeability counterparts. In vulnerable and water-limited karst regions, the timescales of storage may be important for seasonal and sub-seasonal water resource management. We create a framework to quantify storage dynamics in karst aquifers using high-resolution precipitation and groundwater levels from the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer in the US territory of Guam. We estimate recharge using the Water Table Fluctuation method, and then develop transfer functions between precipitation and recharge to quantify storage and release of water from the vadose zone. The transfer functions are partitioned into different flow pathways including conduit, conduit/matrix, and slowly draining matrix. Probability distributions are fit to each pathway to determine the average travel times of infiltrated waters. The results show that aquifer recharge through secondary porosity features typically occurs within a few hours of a rainfall event, but this rapid recharge accounts for only 12%–28% of total recharge. The majority of aquifer recharge (>70%) occurs within a month of a contributing storm event. An additional 10% of recharge, on average, took longer than a month to reach the water table. The framework established can help improve the hydrological modeling and freshwater management for karst aquifers.
Patricia Spellman↗
Composite Analysis Vadose Zone Transport of Selected Hanford Site Composite Analysis: Vadose Zone Transport of Selected Radionuclides Released from DOE O 435.1 Waste Sites
The main objectives of the composite analysis (CA) compliance case vadose zone (VZ) facet are to simulate transport of radionuclide releases from the surface to the water table, and to provide radionuclide transfer rates to groundwater for inclusion into the Plateau-to-River (P2R) saturated zone (SZ) model (CP-57037, Model Package Report: Plateau to River Groundwater Model, Version 8.3). The parallel exascale version of the Subsurface Transport Over Multiple Phases (eSTOMP) simulator is used to simulate flow and transport for the CA VZ models. The CA compliance case approach to address the scale and distribution of contaminant sources in the VZ facet is to subdivide the Hanford Site Central Plateau into 26 models that contain contaminant sources and liquid discharges likely to commingle during migration through the VZ to the water table.
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
Establishing a geochemical heterogeneity model for a contaminated vadose zone – Aquifer system
A large set of sediment samples from a 1600 m2 experimental plot within a 2.2 km2 vadose zone and groundwater uranium (VI) plume were subject to physical, chemical, and mineralogic characterization. The plot is being used for field experimentation on U(VI) recharge and transport processes within a persistent groundwater plume that exists in the groundwater-river interaction zone of the Columbia River at the U.S. DOE Hanford site. The samples were obtained during the installation of 35 tightly spaced (10 m separation) groundwater monitoring wells. The characterization measurements for each sample included total contaminant concentrations (U and Cu primarily), bicarbonate extractable U(VI), sequential 238U(VI) contaminant desorption Kd, 233U(VI) adsorption Kd, grain size distribution, surface area, extractable poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxides, and mineralogy. The characterization objective was to inform a conceptual model of coupled processes controlling the anomalous longevity of the plume, and to quantify the spatial heterogeneity of the contaminant inventory and the primary properties effecting reactive transport. Correlations were drawn between chemical, physical, and reaction properties, and Gaussian simulation was used to compute multiple 3-D realizations of extractable U(VI), the 233U(VI) adsorption Kd, and the distribution of the reactive < 2 mm fraction. Adsorbed contaminant U(VI) was highest in the vadose zone and the zone of seasonal water table fluctuation lying at its base. Adsorbed U(VI) was measureable, but low, in the groundwater plume region where very high hydraulic conductivities existed. The distribution of adsorbed U(VI) displayed no apparent correlation with sediment physical or chemical properties. Desorption [238U(IV)] and adsorption [233U(VI)] Kd values showed appreciable differences due to mass transfer controlled surface complexation and the effects of long subsurface residence times. The 233U(VI) adsorption Kd, a combined measure of surface complexation strength and site concentration, was relatively uniform throughout the domain, displaying correlation with fines distribution and surface area. The characterization results revealed U(VI) supplied to the groundwater plume through spatially heterogeneous recharge from residual contamination in the zone of seasonal water table fluctuation, and transport of U(VI) controlled by weak, kinetically-controlled surface complexation in the coarse-textured saturated zone. Geostatistical relationships for the adsorbed contaminant U distribution in the characterization domain allow an extrapolation to inventory at the plume scale, a critical unknown for remedial action.
contaminant heterogeniety, uranium groundwater plu↗
Deep vadose zone respiration contributions to CO2 fluxes from a semi-arid floodplain, Vadose Zone Journal: Dataset
This data package provides lists of parameter values presented in the paper “Deep vadose zone respiration contributions to CO2 fluxes from a semi-arid floodplain” by Tokunaga et al., Vadose Zone J. 2016. Each table or figure from that paper that contains numerical information is represented as a sheet within the Excel file. Table 1 lists depth profile values for particle-size, bulk density, and parameters for correlating moisture contents with matric potentials. Table 2 lists soil respiration fluxes reported in other studies of semi-arid environments. Figure 3. Presents representative relations between moisture contents with matric potentials. Figure 4 presents depth profiles on different dates at site TT03 for hydraulic head, matric head, pore space volumetric air fraction, temperature, and the effective CO2 diffusion coefficient. Figure 5a presents the time-dependence of relative water table elevation (relative to the deepest measured depth during the study), daily CO2 flux rates at the soil surface, and soil temperature at a depth of 0.20 m. Figure 5b presents continuous measurements of CO2 flux and soil temperature. Figure 6 presents depth profiles on different dates of CO2 concentrations in the gas phase at the 5 monitoring stations. Figure 7 presents CO2 surface fluxes calculated by the gradient method, comparisons between calculated and measured rates at the soil surface, CO2 fluxes at 2m depth, and the ratio of deep (2 m) to surface CO2 fluxes.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Remedy Evaluation Framework for Inorganic, Non-Volatile Contaminants in the Vadose Zone
Contaminants in the vadose zone may act as a potential long-term source of groundwater contamination and need to be considered in remedy evaluations. In many cases, remediation decisions for the vadose zone will need to be made all or in part based on projected impacts to groundwater. Because there are significant natural attenuation processes inherent in vadose zone contaminant transport, remediation in the vadose zone to protect groundwater is functionally a combination of natural attenuation and use of other remediation techniques, as needed, to mitigate contaminant flux to groundwater. Attenuation processes include both hydrobiogeochemical processes that serve to retain contaminants within porous media and physical processes that mitigate the rate of water flux. In particular, the physical processes controlling fluid flow in the vadose zone are quite different and generally have a more significant attenuation impact on contaminant transport relative to those within the groundwater system. A remedy evaluation framework is presented herein that uses an adaptation of the established EPA Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) evaluation approach and a conceptual model based approach focused on identifying and quantifying features and processes that control contaminant flux through the vadose zone. A key concept for this framework is to recognize that MNA will comprise some portion of all remedies in the vadose zone. Thus, structuring evaluation of vadose zone waste sites to use an MNA-based approach provides information necessary to either select MNA as the remedy, if appropriate, or to quantify how much additional attenuation would need to be induced by a remedial action (e.g., technologies considered in a feasibility study) to augment the natural attenuation processes and meet groundwater protection goals.
natural attenuation↗
Addressing Technical and Policy Challenges for Remediation of Metals and Radionuclides within Complex Deep Vadose Zone Environments - 17028
Deep vadose zone contamination is a significant issue in many regions of the world. Although remediation of deep vadose zone contamination is important, direct contact with the contamination does not threaten human health or the environment due to its depth in the vadose zone. Yet, movement of contamination from the deep vadose zone to the groundwater creates the potential for exposure and risk to receptors. Therefore, the challenge of deep vadose zone remediation is to maintain a minimal rate of contaminant transport such that flux from the contaminated vadose zone is limited to protect groundwater resources and down-gradient receptors. We herein review major processes for viable remediation of deep vadose zone metal and radionuclides that form the practical constraints on remedial actions and provide an overview of how these principles are being practiced to address key contaminants at the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site. (authors)
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Influence of alkaline co-contaminants on technetium mobility in vadose zone sediments
Abstract not provided
Szecsody, Jim E.↗
Deep vadose zone remediation: technical and policy challenges, opportunities, and progress in achieving cleanup endpoints
Current requirements for site remediation and closure are standards-based and are often overly conservative, costly, and in some cases, technically impractical. Use of risk-informed alternate endpoints provides a means to achieve remediation goals that are permitted by regulations and are protective of human health and the environment. Alternate endpoints enable the establishment of a path for cleanup that may include intermediate remedial milestones and transition points and/or regulatory alternatives to standards-based remediation. A framework is presented that is centered around developing and refining conceptual models in conjunction with assessing risks and potential endpoints as part of a system-based assessment that integrates site data with scientific understanding of processes that control the distribution and transport of contaminants in the subsurface and pathways to receptors. This system-based assessment and subsequent implementation of the remediation strategy with appropriate monitoring are targeted at providing a holistic approach to addressing risks to human health and the environment. This holistic approach also enables effective predictive analysis of contaminant behavior to provide defensible criteria and data for making long-term decisions. Developing and implementing an alternate endpoint-based approach for remediation and waste site closure presents a number of challenges and opportunities. Categories of these challenges include scientific and technical, regulatory, institutional, and budget and resource allocation issues. Opportunities exist for developing and implementing systems-based approaches with respect to supportive characterization, monitoring, predictive modeling, and remediation approaches. (authors)
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
Contaminants in Vadose Zone Environments
Contaminants in vadose zone environments pose a long-term source and threat to groundwater resources, human health, and the environment. Several technical, regulatory, and policy challenges and opportunities are associated with contamination in vadose zone environments, particularly in remediation. In this special issue, ten papers present novel approaches to characterize, monitor, remediate, and predict the transport and fate of contaminants in vadose zone environments.
Wellman, Dawn M.↗
Estimates of vadose zone drainage from a capped seepage basin, F-Area, Savannah River Site
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
Characterization and Remediation of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Contaminants in the Vadose Zone
Contamination of vadose-zone systems by chlorinated solvents is widespread, and poses significant potential risk to human health through impacts on groundwater quality and vapor intrusion. Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is the presumptive remedy for such contamination, and has been used successfully for innumerable sites. However, SVE operations typically exhibit reduced mass-removal effectiveness at some point due to the impact of poorly accessible contaminant mass and associated mass-transfer limitations. Assessment of SVE performance and closure is currently based on characterizing contaminant mass discharge associated with the vadose-zone source, and its impact on groundwater or vapor intrusion. These issues are addressed in this overview, with a focus on summarizing recent advances in our understanding of the transport, characterization, and remediation of chlorinated solvents in the vadose zone. The evolution of contaminant distribution over time and the associated impacts on remediation efficiency will be discussed, as will the potential impact of persistent sources on groundwater quality and vapor intrusion. In addition, alternative methods for site characterization and remediation will be addressed.
Brusseau, Mark L.↗
Remediation Technologies Screening Report for the Deep Vadose Zone, Hanford's Central Plateau - 12414
Deep Vadose Zone contamination is a significant issue because it represents a potential source for continued release of contamination to the groundwater and associated receptors. This contamination, which is the result of past waste disposal practices on the Hanford Site Central Plateau, occurs deep in the subsurface and is not easily remediated by typical surface remedies. The Deep Vadose Zone is defined as the sediment below the limit of typical surface-based remedies (such as, excavation or caps), but above the water table. The Central Plateau Deep Vadose Zone begins at a depth of approximately 15 m (50 ft) below ground surface and extends to a depth of approximately 76 m (250 ft) below ground surface. Cleanup of the Deep Vadose Zone is challenging because contamination is difficult to access and expensive to characterize; contaminants occur at different depths and soil types; conventional, surface-based remedies have limited effectiveness; and remedy performance is difficult to predict, test, and monitor. Typically, remedial technologies for Deep Vadose Zone contamination are less developed than for the shallow soil contamination or saturated groundwater contaminants. In addition, few remediation technologies have been tested in the field, and fewer still have been successfully implemented as full remedial actions. These challenges, along with the limited number of potentially applicable remediation technologies, complicate the decision-making process for evaluating and selecting Deep Vadose Zone remedial alternatives. The Deep Vadose Zone remediation technologies pre-screening involved a comprehensive review of potentially applicable technologies for remediating Deep Vadose Zone contamination in the Hanford Site's Central Plateau. The list of remediation technologies was developed from previous Hanford Site studies, science and technology databases, as well as other cleanup projects across the country that have similar conditions. The list of remediation technologies was shared with the public and stakeholders to provide an opportunity to identify additional technologies. From these efforts, 59 technologies that may support future remediation of the Deep Vadose Zone were identified. The initial list of 59 potential technologies were then screened in order to identify viable or potentially viable technologies whose implementation would benefit from further investigation and evaluation during the remedial investigation/feasibility study activities. This approach eliminated five technologies from further consideration because they either would not be ready to support remediation within the next 3 to 5 years or were not applicable for Deep Vadose Zone remediation. Eleven (11) technologies were identified as viable, requiring no further testing or investigation during the RCRA Facility Investigation/Remedial Investigation activities. The remaining 43 potentially applicable technologies were identified as requiring additional testing or investigation to determine whether they should be considered further in the selection of a remedial alternative for the 200-DV-1 Operable Unit. The results of this pre-screening effort will be used to plan and scope the appropriate field investigation, treatability study, and feasibility study tasks during development of the 200-DV-1 Operable Unit Work Plan. (authors)
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Technical and Policy Challenges in Deep Vadose Zone Remediation of Metals and Radionuclides
Deep vadose zone contamination is a significant issue facing the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM). Contamination in the deep vadose zone is isolated from exposure such that direct contact is not a factor in risk to human health and the environment; rather, movement of contamination from the deep vadose zone to the groundwater creates the potential for exposure and risk to receptors. Transport of deep vadose zone contamination and discharge to the groundwater creates the potential for exposure and risk to receptors, so limiting flux to groundwater is key for protection of groundwater resources. Remediation approaches for the deep vadose zone need to be considered within the regulatory context, targeted at mitigating the source of contamination and reduce contaminant flux to groundwater. This paper reviews the processes for deep vadose zone metal and radionuclide remediation as well as challenges and opportunities for implementation.
contamination↗
Field-Scale Assessment of Desiccation Implementation for Deep Vadose Zone Contaminants
Desiccation of the vadose zone has the potential to reduce the flux of contaminants to underlying groundwater by removing moisture and decreasing the aqueous-phase permeability of the desiccated zone. However, data to evaluate implementation of desiccation are needed to enable consideration of desiccation as a potential remedy. Implementation of desiccation was field tested by injecting dry nitrogen gas to a target treatment zone and monitoring the spatial and temporal progress of the drying process. Aqueous waste discharges to disposal cribs approximately 50 years ago distributed water and contaminants, including primarily technetium-99 and nitrate, within the 100-m deep vadose zone at the test site. A field test location was selected adjacent to one of the former disposal cribs. The test was conducted in a contaminated portion of the vadose zone dominated by fine sands with lenses of silt material. Desiccation reduced volumetric moisture content to as low as 0.01. The lateral and vertical distribution of drying from the injection well was influenced by the subsurface heterogeneity. However, over time, desiccation occurred in the initially wetter, lower permeability lenses.
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗