The effect of source removal on MGP site contaminants in groundwater at Site 24
- META Environmental, Inc., Watertown, MA (United States)
Remediation of groundwater at former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites can be very complicated because of the nature of MGP contamination. For example, the tarry wastes generated during gas production processes between the 1850s and the 1950s were sometimes left on-site in old tanks, trenches, or other convenient locations. Some of the residues from these tarry wastes still exist today as nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLS) which can release a variety of vapor and dissolved phased tar constituents to soil and groundwater over time. This paper focuses on a case study of a site contaminated with MGP tars. The tarry source material was removed from the site and the impact of that source removal on groundwater contamination is being monitored over a ten-year period. The results of the monitoring effort during the first three years after source removal show that the zone of highest contaminant concentrations in the groundwater plume has moved down gradient and has dissipated significantly. In the near source area, the plume dissipation occurred much more rapidly and to a greater extent than model predictions. In addition, results of dissolved oxygen determinations in the groundwater and other research indicate that natural microbial degradation is occurring within the plume. Based on this study, the removal of source tar with natural plume dissipation can be an effective action for the reduction of groundwater contamination at some former MGP sites without the need for pump and treat or other remedial systems.
- OSTI ID:
- 49442
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-941189--; ISBN 1-56590-016-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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