Potential isolation of a DNAPL source in limestone bedrock using a grout curtain wall at the Smithville Site, Ontario -- a critical review
- Smithville Phase IV Bedrock Remediation Program, Smithville, Ontario (Canada)
- Laurentian Univ., Sudbury, Ontario (Canada)
Bedrock sites contaminated with Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPL) represent a serious challenge in environmental remediation. Few, if any, such sites have been remediated, although many of these sites exist in North America. Most DNAPL impacted sites currently use active containment, referred to as pump and treat. However, hydraulic pumping systems are expensive to operate, especially in permeable formations, and do little to reduce the mass of the contaminant source, resulting in the need to pump virtually in perpetuity. Thus, pump and treat systems become cost prohibitive for long-term contaminant isolation. In seeking better alternatives, geotechnical barrier technologies are being considered as containment strategies for DNAPL contaminated bedrock sites. Review of the spectrum of currently available barrier technologies at a conceptual level resulted in identification of a grout-curtain as the preferred technology for the Smithville Chemical Waste Management Limited (CWML) site, based on preliminary technical and cost considerations. This paper discusses the use of grouting technology, and some of the uncertainties associated with this technology in terms of DNAPL source zone containment. For the half-hectare, fractured carbonate bedrock site contaminated with Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) wastes, capital construction cost estimates for a grout-curtain system range from 8 to 16 million dollars. However, these costs will offset a half million dollar per year pump and treat system which is currently in operation, provided that further design and field studies show the grout-curtain system to be acceptable. Traditionally, grout-curtain technology in bedrock has been used to reduce and control groundwater flow, rather than attempting to completely prevent it from occurring. This is not necessarily inconsistent with meeting all regulatory and environmental protection criteria for DNAPL containment.
- OSTI ID:
- 353681
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970677-; TRN: IM9929%%227
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 90. annual meeting and exhibition of the Air and Waste Management Association, Toronto (Canada), 8-13 Jun 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of 1997 proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association`s 90. annual meeting and exhibition; PB: [7000] p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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