You are the environmental manager of the site and there has been releases of VOC

Question

You are the environmental manager of the site and there has been releases of VOC’s and metals onto the ground surface and have migrated into the subsurface sediments and groundwater. The underlying aquifer is very close to the surface, only about 2 feet< and the groundwater generally flows toward the lake. From benchmarks, the elevation of the site is 20 feet above sea level and the lake is about 7 feet above sea level. This distance to the lake from the release is about 300 feet. The subsurface sediments are: lacustrine (lake deposts) to a depth of 8 feet from the surface with a permeability of 10-3. Underlying the lake deposits is 10 feet of glacial till with a permeability of 10-2. Underlying the till is a thick layer of shale with a permeability of 10-8. Which acts as a impermeable barrier. 1. Develop a management plan to address this problem. What kind of questions might you ask in-order to identify a possible technology? 2. Is there any other information you can identify and provide that would be useful in solving this problem?

Explanation / Answer

Given: An aquifer depth from the surface = 2feet

Elevation of the given site = 20 feet above the mean sea level

elevaion of the lake = 7feet above the mean sea level

Distance of the site from the lake = 300feet

Ground water flows towards lake.

Given sediments at the site are : 1) lacustrine : depth = 8feet permeability = 10.3

2) Glacial till : depth = 10 feet permeability = 10.2

   3)thick layer of shale: bottom permeability = 10.8

main problem is that VOC s and metals are entering the aquifer..

Discharge through the aquifer to the lake is calculated as Q = K (h/l) = k=permeability ( difference of heights / distance between site and lake)

= 10.3 +10.2+10.8 ( (20-7)/300) = 31.3 (13/300) = 1.356

measurements to be taken o avoid VOC s are: 1)we have to characterise the problem and data should be analysed.

2)locate and stop the sources of VOC s

3)Alternate sources: the way of water flow to the lake should be alternated.

4)Conventional water treatment:Folowing spills VoCs can be removed

5) Air through Water Aeration systems: alternate methods

till acts as the impermeable material.

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