Contaminant Fate and Transport Studies in Fractured Sedimentary Rock Aquifers at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, N.J. Active
Field Method to Quantify Chlorinated Solvent Diffusion, Sorption, Abiotic and Biotic Degradation in Low-Permeability Zones
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.
Since 1993, USGS has been providing technical assistance to the U.S. Navy and conducting research at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) in West Trenton, N.J., where trichloroethene (TCE) has migrated in fractures and diffused into, and adsorbed onto, low-permeability mudstone strata, acting as a long-term residual source of contaminants. These studies have helped the Navy efficiently monitor the ongoing natural attenuation of TCE and improve the pump and treat system to remove contaminants and contain impacted groundwater.
Current investigations are focused on understanding flow and transport processes affecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fractured-rock aquifers.
Research results include development of field methods to measure rates and coefficients associated with desorption, reaction, and diffusion of TCE and its degradation products in low-permeability strata (read more). In addition to research by USGS hydrologists, geochemists, and microbiologists, a broad range of studies on characterization, monitoring, and remediation of TCE in fractured rock have been conducted in collaboration with EPA, SERDP and ESTCP, academia, and private industry.
Background information and results prior to 2018 are provided in our Archive.
Related Science
A Field Method to Quantify Chlorinated Solvent Diffusion, Sorption, Abiotic and Biotic Degradation in Low-Permeability Zones
NAWC data and tools
Reported groundwater levels and groundwater pump-and-treat withdrawal volumes, former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2018
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Below are USGS publications associated with this project.
Bibliography at Environmental Health Mission Area
Advancing electrical geophysical characterization of DNAPL-contaminated fractured rock aquifers
Integrated characterization of the geologic framework of a contaminated site in West Trenton, New Jersey
Microbial mineralization of dichloroethene and vinyl chloride under hypoxic conditions
Mass of chlorinated volatile organic compounds removed by Pump-and-Treat, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 1996-2010
Multiple well-shutdown tests and site-scale flow simulation in fractured rocks
Hydrogeologic framework of fractured sedimentary rock, Newark Basin, New Jersey
Analysis of hydromechanical well tests in fractured sedimentary rock at the NAWC site, New Jersey
Contamination in fractured-rock aquifers: Research at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey
Hydraulic and solute-transport properties and simulated advective transport of contaminated ground water in a fractured rock aquifer at the Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2003
Delineating a shallow fault zone and dipping bed rock strata using multichannal analysis of surface waves with a land streamer
Simulated ground-water flow, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey
Ground-water levels and potentiometric surfaces, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2000
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- Overview
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.
Since 1993, USGS has been providing technical assistance to the U.S. Navy and conducting research at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) in West Trenton, N.J., where trichloroethene (TCE) has migrated in fractures and diffused into, and adsorbed onto, low-permeability mudstone strata, acting as a long-term residual source of contaminants. These studies have helped the Navy efficiently monitor the ongoing natural attenuation of TCE and improve the pump and treat system to remove contaminants and contain impacted groundwater.
Current investigations are focused on understanding flow and transport processes affecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fractured-rock aquifers.
Research results include development of field methods to measure rates and coefficients associated with desorption, reaction, and diffusion of TCE and its degradation products in low-permeability strata (read more). In addition to research by USGS hydrologists, geochemists, and microbiologists, a broad range of studies on characterization, monitoring, and remediation of TCE in fractured rock have been conducted in collaboration with EPA, SERDP and ESTCP, academia, and private industry.
Background information and results prior to 2018 are provided in our Archive.
- Science
Related Science
A Field Method to Quantify Chlorinated Solvent Diffusion, Sorption, Abiotic and Biotic Degradation in Low-Permeability Zones
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... - Data
NAWC data and tools
Reported groundwater levels and groundwater pump-and-treat withdrawal volumes, former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2018
This dataset contains U.S. Navy contractor-reported groundwater level data measured on June 18, 2018 and reported daily total groundwater pump-and-treat withdrawal volumes for calendar year 2018 at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey. This data release supports: Fiore, A.R., and Lacombe, P.J., 2020, Groundwater levels and generalized potentiometric surfaces, former Naval - Multimedia
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- Publications
Below are USGS publications associated with this project.
Bibliography at Environmental Health Mission Area
Filter Total Items: 37Advancing electrical geophysical characterization of DNAPL-contaminated fractured rock aquifers
No abstract available.AuthorsJudith Robinson, Timothy Johnosn, Lee Slater, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Pierre Lacombe, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, John W. Lane, Carole D. Johnson, Allen M. Shapiro, Claire R. Tiedeman, Daniel J. GoodeIntegrated characterization of the geologic framework of a contaminated site in West Trenton, New Jersey
Fractured sedimentary bedrock and groundwater at the former Naval Air Warfare Center in West Trenton, New Jersey (United States of America) are contaminated with chlorinated solvents. Predicting contaminant migration or removing the contaminants requires an understanding of the geology. Consequently, the geologic framework near the site was characterized with four different methods having differenAuthorsKarl J. Ellefsen, William C. Burton, Pierre J. LacombeMicrobial mineralization of dichloroethene and vinyl chloride under hypoxic conditions
Mineralization of 14C-radiolabled vinyl chloride ([1,2-14C] VC) and cis-dichloroethene ([1,2-14C] cis-DCE) under hypoxic (initial dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations about 0.1 mg/L) and nominally anoxic (DO minimum detection limit = 0.01 mg/L) was examined in chloroethene-exposed sediments from two groundwater and two surface water sites. The results show significant VC and dichloroethene (DCE) mAuthorsPaul M. Bradley, Francis H. ChapelleMass of chlorinated volatile organic compounds removed by Pump-and-Treat, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 1996-2010
Pump and Treat (P&T) remediation is the primary technique used to contain and remove trichloroethylene (TCE) and its degradation products cis 1-2,dichloroethylene (cDCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) from groundwater at the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, NJ. Three methods were used to determine the masses of TCE, cDCE, and VC removed from groundwater by the P&T system since it became fulAuthorsPierre J. LacombeMultiple well-shutdown tests and site-scale flow simulation in fractured rocks
A new method was developed for conducting aquifer tests in fractured-rock flow systems that have a pump-and-treat (P&T) operation for containing and removing groundwater contaminants. The method involves temporary shutdown of individual pumps in wells of the P&T system. Conducting aquifer tests in this manner has several advantages, including (1) no additional contaminated water is withdrawn, andAuthorsClaire R. Tiedeman, Pierre J. Lacombe, Daniel J. GoodeHydrogeologic framework of fractured sedimentary rock, Newark Basin, New Jersey
The hydrogeologic framework of fractured sedimentary bedrock at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), Trenton, New Jersey, a trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated site in the Newark Basin, is developed using an understanding of the geologic history of the strata, gamma-ray logs, and rock cores. NAWC is the newest field research site established as part of the U.S. Geological Survey Toxic SubsAuthorsPierre J. Lacombe, William C. BurtonAnalysis of hydromechanical well tests in fractured sedimentary rock at the NAWC site, New Jersey
No abstract available.AuthorsL.C. Murdoch, D.B. Hisz, J.F. Ebenhack, D.E. Fowler, C. R. Tiedeman, L.N. GermanovichContamination in fractured-rock aquifers: Research at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey
The U.S. Geological Survey and cooperators are studying chlorinated solvents in a fractured sedimentary rock aquifer underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, New Jersey. Fractured-rock aquifers are common in many parts of the United States and are highly susceptible to contamination, particularly at industrial sites. Compared to 'unconsolidated' aquifers, there can be mAuthorsDaniel J. Goode, Claire R. Tiedeman, Pierre J. Lacombe, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Allen M. Shapiro, Francis H. ChapelleHydraulic and solute-transport properties and simulated advective transport of contaminated ground water in a fractured rock aquifer at the Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2003
Volatile organic compounds, predominantly trichloroethylene and its degradation products, have been detected in ground water at the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, New Jersey. An air-stripping pump-and-treat system has been in operation at the NAWC since 1998. An existing ground-water-flow model was used to evaluate the effect of a change in the configuration of the network of recovAuthorsJean C. Lewis-Brown, Glen B. Carleton, Thomas E. ImbrigiottaDelineating a shallow fault zone and dipping bed rock strata using multichannal analysis of surface waves with a land streamer
The multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) seismic method was used to delineate a fault zone and gently dipping sedimentary bedrock at a site overlain by several meters of regolith. Seismic data were collected rapidly and inexpensively using a towed 30-channel land streamer and a rubberband-accelerated weight-drop seismic source. Data processed using the MASW method imaged the subsurface toAuthorsJ. Ivanov, R. D. Miller, P. Lacombe, C. D. Johnson, J.W. LaneSimulated ground-water flow, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey
No abstract available.AuthorsJ. C. Lewis-Brown, D.E. RiceGround-water levels and potentiometric surfaces, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2000
Water levels were measured in wells at the decommissioned Naval Air Warfare Center in West Trenton, N.J., during 2000. Water-level hydrographs prepared from data collected at seven observation wells on the base show changes caused by seasonal and daily climate conditions and by the pumping of contaminated water from recovery wells. Stressed and unstressed potentiometric surfaces for 2000 are siAuthorsPierre J. Lacombe - Partners
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