Volatile Organic Compounds

Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program project ER-2533 In chlorinated-solvent-contaminated fractured-sedimentary-rock aquifers, low-permeability (low-K) strata typically act as long-term or secondary sources of contamination to mobile groundwater in the high-permeability fractures. The fate of dissolved trichloroethene (TCE) in the low-K matrix is controlled by abiotic...

Contaminants associated with industrial, airport, and other activities are present in groundwater in fractured-rock aquifers, posing long-term hazards to drinking-water supplies and ecosystems. The heterogeneous character of fractured rock challenges our understanding, monitoring, and remediation of such sites.

Elevated gross alpha-particle activity in groundwater has recently been documented from scattered areas in northern New Jersey. Initial data compilations indicate most of this alpha-particle activity is attributable to long-lived isotopes of U, and to a lesser extent, the long-lived progeny, Ra-226. The project will consist of three phases to be completed cooperatively between the USGS and NJDEP...

Few studies have evaluated or compared contaminant mass removal by Pump-and-Treat (P&T), Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA), or Enhanced Biodegradation (EB) in fractured-rock aquifers, partly because of the perceived hydrogeologic complexity, the lack of understanding of the processes controlling the migration and transformation of contaminants, and the lack of sufficient field data for...

The goal of this project is to assist EPA in hydrogeologic investigations and perform a groundwater flow assessment in the Pohatcong Valley area to determine probable source of contamination of wells.

As part of the New Jersey Source Water Assessment Program, the U.S. Geological Survey previously developed models to determine the susceptibility of surface water intakes and groundwater supply wells used for public supply. Applying these models presently requires a substantial data-processing effort involving many manual steps. An adaptable, automated process is needed so that NJDEP can update...

The USEPA wants USGS to evaluate available hydrogeologic and groundwater-quality data to determine if there is sufficient data to develop a model to estimate contributing area of water to the wells. The goals of this project are to determine if available data is sufficient to develop a groundwater flow model to estimate contributing area of water to wells and to determine what data needs to be...