Comparison between low-flow and traditional ground-water purging and sampling results for volatile organics

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:569977

GeFell, M J ^[1]

---

1. Blasland, Bouck & Lee, Inc., Syracuse, NY (United States)

Analytical results for ground-water samples obtained using low-flow purging and sampling followed by traditional purging and sampling at a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region I Superfund Site in Connecticut, indicate a negligible statistical difference using either method. Based on a statistical comparison between individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in a low-flow sample and in the associated traditional sample from the same monitoring well, the mean percent difference between the log transform of the data is not significantly different from zero at the 99 percent confidence level. Plotted on a log-log chart, the low-flow versus traditional data conform closely to the line of equal concentration, with a correlation factor of 0.98. Approximately 75 percent of the detected VOCs, however, were identified at higher concentrations in the traditional sample. All of the VOCs detected below 50 micrograms per liter (ug/L) in the low-flow samples were detected at higher concentrations in the associated traditional samples. These results indicate no adverse degree of VOC loss during traditional ground-water purging and sampling, rather traditional sampling is interpreted as more conservative than low-flow sampling with respect to regulatory plume delineation.

• OSTI ID: 569977
• Report Number(s): CONF-971116--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
CONNECTICUT
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SAMPLING
VOLATILE MATTER