Differentiating & Monitoring
Groundwater Plumes
Presenter: William G. Soukup, P.G.
Senior Hydrogeologist,
Cornerstone Environmental Group, LLC
On-Demand Webcast, 1hr*
Credits: 1 PDH / 0.1 CEUs
$59.00
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Potable groundwater resources in urban areas are often threatened by various plumes of mobile contaminants. Increasingly, groundwater professionals are being called upon to not only determine the source of individual plumes, but to apportion the contributions of multiple sources within a composite plume. Although the principal contaminants of concern in these plumes are commonly volatile organic compounds or heavy metals, often the sources can be more definitively identified through analysis of other trace constituents in the plumes.
Join William G. Soukup, P.G. of Cornerstone Environmental Group LLC to discuss the analytical and interpretive techniques for differentiating plumes and their sources, as well as tips to improve long-term plume monitoring and management.
Soukup will explore several analytical and interpretive techniques that can be used to differentiate plumes and their likely sources. These include the minor ions of bromide (Br) and iodide (I) which can be particularly diagnostic because they behave conservatively. Cross-plots of these ions with chloride will be used to illustrate how to distinguish the source of contaminants from landfills, septic systems, animal wastes, and road salting. Other techniques that will be presented include the stable isotopes of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and, in some cases, the radioactive isotope of hydrogen, tritium. Finally, a case study will be used to illustrate how MTBE can provide a time-line marker for the release of petroleum-related contaminants into the groundwater.
This webcast will conclude with techniques on how to effectively manage groundwater plumes, whether they are in a monitored natural attenuation program, or are being actively remediated. Tips on the integration of both groundwater level and groundwater quality data will be provided, as well as optimizing the monitoring well network.
Learning Objectives
Webcast attendees can expect the discussion and education of the following learning objectives.
- Understanding of why groundwater plumes become comingled in urban environments
- Understanding of the definition of minor ions and how can they be used to identify sources of plumes
- Understanding of the historic use of tritium in groundwater dating and how can it be used to identify landfill impacts to groundwater
- Understanding of the specialized analytical methods required to obtain the low detection limits needed for minor ion analysis
* Webcast presentations are scheduled for approximately one hour. Webcast may exceed scheduled time.
*Each state and certification agency has different requirements; it is your responsibility to know what they are.
Note that 1 PDH = 0.1 CEU.
