Subsurface Hydraulic Studies and Modeling to Support Injection Treatment and Hydraulic Containment at Impacted Coal Combustion Product (CCP) Sites

Subsurface Hydraulic Studies and Modeling to Support Injection Treatment and Hydraulic Containment at Impacted Coal Combustion Product (CCP) Sites

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Subsurface Hydraulic Studies and Modeling to Support Injection Treatment and Hydraulic Containment at Impacted Coal Combustion Product (CCP) Sites Authors Dr. Ali Meyal - United States - Anchor QEA Dr. Jim Redwine - United States - Anchor QEA Mr. Alexander Macbeth - United States - Anchor QEA Mr. Mike Gefell - United States - Anchor QEA Mr. Chuck Pippin - United States - Anchor QEA Abstract In situ injection for remediation of CCP constituents in groundwater could save millions of dollars at CCP sites compared to conventional technologies. Hydraulic containment is also a selected remedy at many CCP sites. Anchor QEA is using aquifer hydraulic characteristics at several CCP sites to evaluate the injectability of bedrock aquifers and using modeling to design an effective in situ treatment pilot test. The evaluation can also be applied to hydraulic containment to assess and design that corrective measure, if needed. Anchor QEA defined potential remediation areas (PRAs) based on sustainable injection rate, injected solution travel time, radius of influence, accessibility, and depth of treatment zone. These elements were determined using hydraulic gradients, bulk hydraulic conductivities, treatment zone interval depths, and fracture porosities. The resulting hydrogeologic conceptual site models are being used to conduct numerical solute transport modeling to evaluate how the flow field and the injection scenarios control contaminant degradation rates at CCP sites, enabling optimum design. The modeling employs various active spreading techniques under different injection scenarios, such as injection locations and sequencing, and using push-pull methods.