A pioneering rapid and direct measurement of dissolved 222Rn in the field has been used here to explore interaction between surface and groundwater in the source area of the Yellow River (SAYR). The results indicate average 222Rn activity of 2,371 Bq/m3 in surface water and 27,835 Bq/m3 in groundwater. The high 222Rn activity (up to 9,133 Bq/m3) found in the southeast part of the SAYR suggests possible influence of permafrost on the exchange between surface water and groundwater. The remarkable contrast among the different samples of a stream in the Shuangchagou basin, a typical basin in the SAYR, clearly indicates groundwater infiltration along the north tributary and occurrence of groundwater end-member in the south tributary. Considering no 222Rn decay and atmospheric evasion, the daily average fraction of groundwater input to the surface water through the end-member in a location (S1) is estimated at 19%. Despite the up to 40% uncertainty, this is the first estimate of a reference value for groundwater input in this basin and which can be improved in the future with more samples and measurements. 222Rn can be a rapid and easily measured tracer of surface water–groundwater interaction for future investigation in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
California’s Chino Basin Organics Management Strategy uses creative ways to protect its watershed while expanding composting and digesting capacity for manure and biosolids.
CLEAN WATER is a vital commodity in the semiarid environment within the coastal plain of southern California. About two-thirds of the water supply is imported from often great distances and at significant expense to support the region’s industrial, agricultural and population base. This makes local ground and surface waters a vital resource...
Up to now, the recovery of precious metals used as catalysts in chemical processes has involved the use of incineration. Now, however, a British-Swedish joint venture has developed a process which uses supercritical water oxidation instead, which provides many economic and environmental advantages.
Precious metals are used extensively in catalysts in a wide range of industrial chemical processes. Sometimes they are used in a homogeneous form, but more often fixed to a solid support for ease of handling. In many...
Recognition of the relationship between increasing phosphorus inputs to surface waters and the subsequent increase in eutrophication of water bodies gave rise to public concern during the 1970’s and 1980’s. This led to action by several countries including the USA, Japan and some EU member states, to reduce phosphorus loads, particularly from urban and industrial point sources.
The two main areas of action that have taken place, particularly in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s are:
A reduction in the amount...
Membrane use by water suppliers may not be new, but suppliers are considering membranes in new ways -- by number and variety of applications. Membranes can work on a wider range of resource waters, more efficiently and for less cost than before.
Among membranes` attractions as substitutes for conventional water-treatment technologies, such as filtration, distillation and ion-exchange are:
energy savings;
operating ease; and
system design flexibility.
Also, membranes enable water providers to remove...
Four site locations in the Southern or Midwest United States were the venues for pilot testing of a commercially available injectable bioremediation product (HRC™) to enhance the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents. This activity occurred from 1997 through the end of 2000. Prior to injection, each site exhibited bioattenuation of parent compounds such as PCE, TCE, carbon tetrachloride, or chlorofluorocarbons, but at very slow rates. Enhanced bioattenuation was desired so an injection of HRC™, a food...
THE TERM, “decentralized waste-water management,” refers to the process of treating and discharging treated wastewater in the local vicinity where it is generated. Decentralized systems typically use the soil as the final receptor of the treated wastewater instead of discharging to surface waters, which are generally the receptors of treated wastewater from larger centralized treatment plants. Wastewater is further treated in the soil; some is utilized by plants and, in many environments, much of it will recharge...
This is the second in a series of five articles relating to conducting Phase I Environmental Site assessments. Each article attempts to give the reader a thorough understanding of a specific aspect of the Phase I process and Clayton’s commitment to meeting or exceeding the requirements of ASTM Standard E 1527 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process. The first article discussed Historical Use of the subject and adjoining properties. This second article...
The City of Vancouver owns and operates the Vancouver Landfill located in Delta, British Columbia. The Vancouver Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill receiving approximately 400,000 tonnes per year of municipal solid waste. The total area of the Landfill is 635 hectares of which approximately 225 hectares has been filled since landfill operations commenced in 1966. As part of the Landfill`s environmental protection program, the City of Vancouver has been collecting and analyzing water quality data for...
ABSTRACT
Recent advances in both the chemistry- and hydrogeology-based aspects of monitored natural attenuation (MNA) and in toxicology research have changed some of the traditional approaches to MNA for petroleum and chlorinated groundwater plume management. For MNA to be approved as a remedial approach, human health and the environment must still be protected. To demonstrate protection, alternate exposure pathways (such as groundwater-to-air transfer) have been explored and recommended by regulatory agencies....
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) hold great potential as a tool for managing environmental site remediation data. While noting the location of contaminated sites in GIS is commonplace, GIS has played only a minor role in review and analysis of chemical data gathered during an investigation or monitoring activity. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Site Remediation Branch (NJDEP SRP) has undertaken a project making the use of GIS for this purpose a reality within their organization. Through...
Executive Summary
This case study describes a field analytical method that was used to measure PCB surficial contamination in empty drums to be cleaned by a new process. Approximately 7,000 empty 55-gallon drums that previously contained PCB-contaminated material had accumulated at the Department of Energy (DOE)’s East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, TN. Because disposal of these drums following regulator-approved methods would have been very costly, DOE requested permission from the Environmental...
Sites where halogenated VOCs may be found include burn pits, chemical manufacturing plants or disposal areas, contaminated marine sediments, disposal wells and leach fields, electroplating/metal finishing shops, firefighting training areas, hangars/aircraft maintenance areas, landfills and burial pits, leaking collection and system sanitary lines, leaking storage tanks, radioactive/mixed waste disposal areas, oxidation ponds/lagoons, paint stripping and spray booth areas, pesticide/herbicide mixing areas, solvent...
Traditional risk management posits a rational, five-step process for managing risks. The outstanding differences between this traditional process and the environmental risk management process lie in the technicality and complexity of step one (identifying and analyzing environmental risk) and of the first part of step two (examining the feasibility of alternative risk management, specifically risk control techniques). The two main differences between the environmental risk management process in the context of a...
` In order to determine the impacts of a particular discharge on ambient water quality, it is usually necessary to model the diffusion and dispersion of the discharge in the relevant water body. The approach applies both to new discharges and to upgrading of existing sources. This note provides guidance on models that may be applicable in the context of typical Bank projects.`
Introduction
Mathematical models can be used to predict changes in ambient water quality due to changes in discharges of wastewater. In...
Introduction
Surface and subsurface soils have different characteristics in natural attenuation. Mobile contaminants in subsurface soils diffuse into soil vapor and aqueous phase and thus are relatively easily subject to natural subsurface processes that can attenuate these contaminants. Most high-molecular-weight (persistent) organic and many inorganic contaminants will be immobilized in the subsurface soil matrix. These persistent organic contaminants often are difficult to degrade and the inorganic metals are...
The U.S. Department of Energy`s (DOE`s) Environmental Restoration Program directs the assessment and cleanup of inactive sites and surplus facilities contaminated from previous defense and non-defense-related programs. All cleanup activities must comply with federal, state, Indian Nation, and local laws and regulations. In completing environmental restoration activities, DOE is committed to working with stakeholders to understand technical issues and evaluate alternatives. Two important program goals include...
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