Water balance at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Water Resources Bulletin; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1989.tb03075.x· OSTI ID:6245902

Healy, R W ^[1]; Gray, J R ^[2]; de Vries, M P ^[3]; Mills, P C

---

1. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
2. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ (United States)
3. Geological Survey, Urbana, IL (United States)

The water balance at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site in northwestern Illinois was studied from July 1982 through June 1984. Continuous data collection allowed estimates to be made for each component of the water-balance equation independent of other components. The average annual precipitation was 948 millimeters. Average annual evapotranspiration was estimated at 637 millimeters, runoff was 160 millimeters, change in water storage in a waste-trench cover was 24 millimeters, and deep percolation was 208 millimeters. The magnitude of the difference between precipitation and all other components indicates that, in a similar environment, the water-budget method would be useful in estimating evapotranspiration, but questionable for estimation of other components. Precipitation depth and temporal distribution had a very strong effect on all other components of the water-balance equation. Due to the variability of precipitation from year to year, it appears that two years of data are inadequate for characterization of the long-term average water balance at the site.

• OSTI ID: 6245902
• Journal Information: Water Resources Bulletin; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Bulletin; (United States) Vol. 25:2; ISSN WARBA; ISSN 0043-1370
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540330 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUATIONS
EVAPORATION
FEDERAL REGION V
HYDROLOGY
ILLINOIS
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RUNOFF
TRANSPIRATION
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES