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Title: Hydrologic study of the unsaturated zone adjacent to a radioactive-waste disposal site at the Savannah River Plant, Aiken, South Carolina

Abstract

Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity as a function of soil-water content and soil-water pressure head of field soils in the vicinity of a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site was measured for a period of 28 days following steady-state infiltration. Tensiometer and a neutron probe measurements were replicated four times at various depth intervals of from 12.0 to 120.00 inches below land surface in two 12 foot square plots. Values of soil-water content, soil-water flux, and hydraulic conductivity at each depth were calculated during the period of drainage using a computer program called SOIL. After drainage of soil-water through the 120 inch profile ceased, duplicate undisturbed soil cores from opposite sides of each plot and from disturbed and undisturbed sites within the burial grounds were recovered and subjected to pressure-plate analysis for the calculation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Laboratory analyses also included the determination of soil bulk density, particle-size distribution, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Calculation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in the laboratory was made using a computer program called HYDRO, based upon the relationship of the soil-water content/soil-water pressure curve. Soils in the study area and the burial ground exhibited similar physical and hydrologic characteristics. Field derived hydraulic conductivity correlated well with laboratory derivedmore » conductivity. Variability of soil characteristics due to burial operations were minimal when compared to undisturbed natural soils in the study area. Two textural discontinuities were found to exist in the soil profile at depths of 12 to 24 inches and at 130 inches, which inhibit soil-water movement and thereby reduce the quantity and rate of recharge to the underlying water-table aquifer.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc., TN (USA); Georgia Univ., Athens (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6240649
Report Number(s):
DOE/TIC-11491
ON: DE81031984; TRN: 81-017184
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76OR00033
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT; RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES; SOILS; HYDRAULICS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; COMPUTER CALCULATIONS; DENSITY; DEPTH; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; HYDROLOGY; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; MOISTURE; PARTICLE SIZE; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; SOIL MECHANICS; TENSIOMETERS; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; DATA; DIMENSIONS; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; FLUID MECHANICS; INFORMATION; MANAGEMENT; MASS TRANSFER; MATERIALS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MECHANICS; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; NUMERICAL DATA; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; SIZE; US AEC; US DOE; US ERDA; US ORGANIZATIONS; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; 053000* - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects; 052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage; 510500 - Environment, Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Gruber, P. Hydrologic study of the unsaturated zone adjacent to a radioactive-waste disposal site at the Savannah River Plant, Aiken, South Carolina. United States: N. p., 1980. Web.
Gruber, P. Hydrologic study of the unsaturated zone adjacent to a radioactive-waste disposal site at the Savannah River Plant, Aiken, South Carolina. United States.
Gruber, P. 1980. "Hydrologic study of the unsaturated zone adjacent to a radioactive-waste disposal site at the Savannah River Plant, Aiken, South Carolina". United States.
@article{osti_6240649,
title = {Hydrologic study of the unsaturated zone adjacent to a radioactive-waste disposal site at the Savannah River Plant, Aiken, South Carolina},
author = {Gruber, P},
abstractNote = {Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity as a function of soil-water content and soil-water pressure head of field soils in the vicinity of a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site was measured for a period of 28 days following steady-state infiltration. Tensiometer and a neutron probe measurements were replicated four times at various depth intervals of from 12.0 to 120.00 inches below land surface in two 12 foot square plots. Values of soil-water content, soil-water flux, and hydraulic conductivity at each depth were calculated during the period of drainage using a computer program called SOIL. After drainage of soil-water through the 120 inch profile ceased, duplicate undisturbed soil cores from opposite sides of each plot and from disturbed and undisturbed sites within the burial grounds were recovered and subjected to pressure-plate analysis for the calculation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Laboratory analyses also included the determination of soil bulk density, particle-size distribution, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Calculation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in the laboratory was made using a computer program called HYDRO, based upon the relationship of the soil-water content/soil-water pressure curve. Soils in the study area and the burial ground exhibited similar physical and hydrologic characteristics. Field derived hydraulic conductivity correlated well with laboratory derived conductivity. Variability of soil characteristics due to burial operations were minimal when compared to undisturbed natural soils in the study area. Two textural discontinuities were found to exist in the soil profile at depths of 12 to 24 inches and at 130 inches, which inhibit soil-water movement and thereby reduce the quantity and rate of recharge to the underlying water-table aquifer.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6240649}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}

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