Groundwater Quality Assessment for Waste Management Area U: First Determination

Technical Report · Fri Aug 04 04:00:00 EDT 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/965201· OSTI ID:965201

Hodges, Floyd N; Chou, Charissa J

As a result of the most recent recalculation one of the indicator parameters, specific conductance, exceeded its background value in downgradient well 299-W19-41, triggering a change from detection monitoring to groundwater quality assessment program. The major contributors to the higher specific conductance are nonhazardous constituents (i.e., sodium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate). Nitrate, chromium, and technetium-99 are present and are increasing; however, they are significantly below their drinking waster standards. Interpretation of groundwater monitoring data indicates that both the nonhazardous constituents causing elevated specific conductance in groundwater and the tank waste constituents present in groundwater at the waste management area are a result of surface water infiltration in the southern portion of the facility. There is evidence for both upgradient and waste management area sources for observed nitrate concentrations. There is no indication of an upgradient source for the observed chromium and technetium-99.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 965201
• Report Number(s): PNNL-13282; EY3542301
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHROMIUM
GROUND WATER
HANFORD RESERVATION
IONIC CONDUCTIVITY
MONITORING
RCRA
SURFACE WATERS
TECHNETIUM 99
WATER INFLUX
WATER QUALITY
WATER WELLS
groundwater quality assessment program