Hanford Site ground-water monitoring for 1995

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:398555

Dresel, P E; Rieger, J T; Webber, W D; Thorne, P D; Gillespie, B M; Luttrell, S P; Wurstner, S K; Liikala, T L

This report presents the results of the Groundwater Surveillance Project monitoring for calendar year 1995 on the Hanford Site, Washington. Hanford Site operations from 1943 onward produced large quantities of radiological and chemical waste that impacted groundwater quality on the site. Monitoring of water levels and groundwater chemistry is performed to track the extent of contamination, to note trends in contaminant concentrations,a nd to identify emerging groundwater quality problems. Data from other monitoring and characterization programs were incorporated to provide an integrated assessment of onsite groundwater quality. A three- dimensional, numerical, groundwater model is being developed to improve predictions of contaminant transport. The existing two- dimensional model was applied to predict contaminant flow paths and the impact of changes on site conditions. These activities were supported by limited hydrogeologic characterization. Water level monitoring was performed to evaluate groundwater flow directions, to track changes in water levels, and to relate such changes to evolving disposal practices. Radiological monitoring results indicated that many radioactive contaminants were above US Environmental Protection Agency or State of Washington drinking water standards at the Hanford Site. Nitrate, fluoride, chromium, cyanide, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, trichloroethylene, and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene were present in groundwater samples at levels above their US EPA or State of Washington maximum contaminant levels.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 398555
• Report Number(s): PNNL--11141; ON: TI97050046
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CESIUM 137
COBALT 60
COMPILED DATA
CONTAMINATION
DRINKING WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GROUND WATER
HYDROLOGY
IODINE 129
MONITORING
NITRATES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
STRONTIUM 90
TECHNETIUM 99
TRITIUM
URANIUM
WATER QUALITY