Modeling one-dimensional unsaturated flow at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site near Golden, Colorado
- EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States)
- Advanced Sciences Inc., Lakewood, CO (United States)
A field investigation characterizing contamination at the Rocky Flats Plant (Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site) near Golden, Colorado revealed unexpectedly high moisture contents in the unsaturated soil column (vadose zone) beneath several of the Plant`s Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) sludge drying beds. Because these beds were seldom in use, researchers had hypothesized that the water required to maintain the saturated conditions observed beneath several of the sludge drying beds was coming from sources other than the beds themselves. In an effort to substantiate this hypothesis, a one-dimensional physically-based unsaturated flow model was utilized to simulate the vertical movement of moisture from the sludge drying beds into the unsaturated soil column below. The model was run to simulate vertical flow over a two-year period and results indicated that no significant changes from initial conditions were apparent. This evidence supports the hypothesis that the high moisture contents found beneath the sludge drying beds are being fed by sources other than infiltration of sludge applied to the beds themselves. This paper presents the details of the simulation and provides further evidence of the hypothesized flow regime.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Rocky Flats, Inc., Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC34-90DP62349
- OSTI ID:
- 41315
- Report Number(s):
- RFP-4935; CONF-9505188-2; ON: DE95009113; TRN: AHC29512%%52
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1995 American Institute of Hydrology annual meeting, Denver, CO (United States), 14-18 May 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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