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Thomas E Imbrigiotta

Tom Imbrigiotta has worked for the USGS since 1977 in Indiana and New Jersey on groundwater contamination and sampling devices. He has served the USGS New Jersey Water Science Center as Water Quality Specialist, Supervisory Hydrologist, and Research Hydrologist, and became a Scientist Emeritus Hydrologist in 2019.

Research Interests

  • Quantifying natural attenuation and enhanced bioremediation processes in contaminant plumes
  • Chemical diffusion from fractured rock into boreholes
  • Rock core sampling for volatile organic compound (VOC) contaminants in fractured rock aquifers
  • Regenerated-cellulose dialysis membrane (RCDM) passive diffusion samplers for VOCs, inorganics, perchlorate, and explosive compounds in wells
  • Sampling methods for organics in groundwater

Professional Experience

  • 2005-2019 Research hydrologist and project chief of the NAWC Navy project at the former Naval Air Warfare Center in West Trenton, NJ. Conducted research for the Toxics Substances Hydrology Program and a Strategic Environmental Research and Development (SERDP) project at the NAWC fractured rock research site. 

  • Helped develop and test a downhole packer tool and uphole closed-loop sampling device to measure diffusion rates from the rock matrix and biodegradation rates in the borehole.

  • 2014-2016 Water Quality Specialist, NJWSC

  • 2009-2014 Supervisory Hydrologist, Hydrologic Research Program section of the NJWSC

  • 2003-2008 Project chief, Environmental Security Technology Certification (ESTCP) study developing a RCDM diffusion sampler for groundwater in wells

  • 1997-2005 Senior hydrologist studying natural attenuation mechanisms in New Jersey aquifers contaminated with VOCs

  • 1988-1997 Project chief and coordinator of an interdisciplinary research study of the fate and transport of chlorinated solvents in an unconfined sand-and-gravel aquifer at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, the USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program's national research site for chlorinated solvent contamination research in unconsolidated aquifers

  • 1984-1988 Project chief for evaluation of methods for sampling organics in groundwater

  • 1977-1984 Project chief for investigations of groundwater quality in Indiana

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Water Chemistry, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, 1982

  • B.S. Chemistry, Oakland Univ., Rochester, Michigan, 1975

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, PFAS Team 2017-2019, Passive Sampler Team 2002-2010

  • American Chemical Society 1974-1990, 1999-2008

  • American Geophysical Union 1990-2008

  • American Society for Testing and Materials 1986-1988

  • Indiana Water Resources Assoc. 1980-1984 (Sec. 1982-1984)

Honors and Awards

  • USGS Award for RCDM sampler patent application, 2005

  • USGS Awards for sampling course development and presentation, 1987, 1990

Science and Products

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Photograph of road cut showing fractured sedimentary rocks

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...
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Toxic Substances Hydrology, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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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...
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USGS scientist with equipment used to inject fluids for a bioaugmentation experiment

Contaminant Fate and Transport Studies in Fractured Sedimentary Rock Aquifers at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, N.J.

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.
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New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Contaminant Fate and Transport Studies in Fractured Sedimentary Rock Aquifers at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, N.J.

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.
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Microbial community analyses of groundwater collected during an enhanced bioremediation experiment of trichlorethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, West Trenton, NJ (2008-2015)

These datasets contain microbial community data from groundwater samples collected at an in situ bioremediation site located at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, NJ. DNA was extracted from groundwater samples collected from monitoring wells at the NAWC study site from July 2008 through July 2015 and analyzed for microbial community structure. Sample collection coincided wit
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Water Resources Mission Area

Concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater and surface water, former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey

This dataset contains a compilation of concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater and surface water sampled at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey. Measured VOCs include trichloroethene (TCE), cis- 1,2-dichloroethene (cisDCE), and vinyl chloride (VC). Semi-volatile organic compound 1,4-diox
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New Jersey Water Science Center

Concentrations of Chlorinated Ethene Compounds in Rock Core Collected from the Mudstone Underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey

These data sets present results from the analyses of chlorinated ethene compounds in samples of rock core collected from boreholes in the mudstone underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey.
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Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology

Biogeochemical analyses of water samples collected in the mudstone aquifer underlying the Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, NJ (2008-2013)

This data set presents results from the analyses of groundwater water samples collected from monitoring wells and monitoring intervals in bedrock wells in the mudstone aquifer underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, NJ. The water samples were collected between 2008 and 2013 and were analyzed for field parameters, inorganic and organic constituents, and the abundances o
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Water Resources Mission Area
Delaware River at Washington's Crossing Bridge during High-water
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Washington Crossing Flood
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Distribution of chlorinated volatile organic compounds and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater and surface water at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2018

Groundwater wells and surface-water storm sewers contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) site in West Trenton, New Jersey were sampled in 2018 as part of the Navy’s long-term monitoring program. Trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cisDCE), and vinyl chloride concentrations were plot
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Alex R. Fiore, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Timothy P. Wilson
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Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Microbial community response to a bioaugmentation test to degrade trichloroethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, Trenton, N.J

Bioaugmentation is a promising strategy for enhancing trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation in fractured rock. However, slow or incomplete biodegradation can lead to stalling at degradation byproducts such as 1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC). Over the course of 7 years, we examined the response of groundwater microbial populations in a bioaugmentation test where an emulsified veg
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Jennifer C. Underwood, Denise M. Akob, Michelle Lorah, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Ronald W. Harvey, Claire R. Tiedeman
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Water Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Reston Microbiology Laboratory

A borehole test for chlorinated solvent diffusion and degradation rates in sedimentary rock

We present a new field measurement and numerical interpretation method (combined termed ‘test’) to parameterize the diffusion of trichloroethene (TCE) and its biodegradation products (DPs) from the matrix of sedimentary rock. The method uses a dual-packer system to interrogate a low-permeability section of the rock matrix adjacent to a previously contaminated borehole and uses the borehole monitor
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Richelle M. Allen-King, Rebecca L. Kiekhaefer, Daniel J. Goode, Paul A. Hsieh, Michelle Lorah, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta
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Water Resources Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Distribution of chlorinated volatile organic compounds and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in monitoring wells at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 2014–17

A study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Navy (the Navy) to determine the status of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in groundwater at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) in West Trenton, New Jersey. Wells contaminated with VOCs were sampled in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 as part of the Navy’s long-term
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Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Alex R. Fiore
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, New Jersey Water Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

Passive sampling of groundwater wells for determination of water chemistry

IntroductionPassive groundwater sampling is defined as the collection of a water sample from a well without the use of purging by a pump or retrieval by a bailer (Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council [ITRC], 2006; American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM], 2014). No purging means that advection of water is not involved in collecting the water sample from the well. Passive samplers
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Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Philip T. Harte
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Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

A comparison of groundwater sampling technologies, including passive diffusion sampling, for radionuclide contamination

Using traditional high-flow purge methods for long-term water quality monitoring of deep groundwater wells can be expensive, affect contaminant migration, and produce excessive volumes of discharge water that can be difficult to manage. The use of low-flow pumping methods and depth discrete bailers (DDBs) can reduce the cost of sampling deep groundwater wells. In general, using different pumping m
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Rebecca J. Frus, Thomas Imbrigiotta
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Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center

The complex spatial distribution of trichloroethene and the probability of NAPL occurrence in the rock matrix of a mudstone aquifer

Methanol extractions for chloroethene analyses are conducted on rock samples from seven closely spaced coreholes in a mudstone aquifer that was subject to releases of the nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) form of trichloroethene (TCE) between the 1950's and 1990's. Although TCE concentration in the rock matrix over the length of coreholes is dictated by proximity to subhorizontal bedding planefractur
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Allen M. Shapiro, Daniel J. Goode, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Michelle M. Lorah, Claire R. Tiedeman
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Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Bioremediation in fractured rock: 1. Modeling to inform design, monitoring, and expectations

Field characterization of a trichloroethene (TCE) source area in fractured mudstones produced a detailed understanding of the geology, contaminant distribution in fractures and the rock matrix, and hydraulic and transport properties. Groundwater flow and chemical transport modeling that synthesized the field characterization information proved critical for designing bioremediation of the source ar
Authors
Claire R. Tiedeman, Allen M. Shapiro, Paul A. Hsieh, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Daniel J. Goode, Pierre Lacombe, Mary F. DeFlaun, Scott R. Drew, Carole D. Johnson, John H. Williams, Gary P. Curtis
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Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Bioremediation in fractured rock: 2. Mobilization of chloroethene compounds from the rock matrix

A mass balance is formulated to evaluate the mobilization of chlorinated ethene compounds (CE) from the rock matrix of a fractured mudstone aquifer under pre- and postbioremediation conditions. The analysis relies on a sparse number of monitoring locations and is constrained by a detailed description of the groundwater flow regime. Groundwater flow modeling developed under the site characterizatio
Authors
Allen M. Shapiro, Claire R. Tiedeman, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Daniel J. Goode, Paul A. Hsieh, Pierre Lacombe, Mary F. DeFlaun, Scott R. Drew, Gary P. Curtis
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Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Effects of land use and sample location on nitrate-stream flow hysteresis descriptors during storm events

The U.S. Geological Survey's New Jersey and Iowa Water Science Centers deployed ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric sensors at water-quality monitoring sites on the Passaic and Pompton Rivers at Two Bridges, New Jersey, on Toms River at Toms River, New Jersey, and on the North Raccoon River near Jefferson, Iowa to continuously measure in-stream nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen (NO3 + NO2) conce
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Lawrence S. Feinson, Jacob Gibs, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Jessica D. Garrett
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Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Chemical and ancillary data associated with bed sediment, young of year Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) tissue, and mussel (Mytilus edulis and Geukensia demissa) tissue collected after Hurricane Sandy in bays and estuaries of New

This report describes the methods and data associated with a reconnaissance study of young of year bluefish and mussel tissue samples as well as bed sediment collected as bluefish habitat indicators during August 2013–April 2014 in New Jersey and New York following Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. This study was funded by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (PL 113-2) and was conducted
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Ashok D. Deshpande, Vicki Blazer, Heather S. Galbraith, Bruce W. Dockum, Kristin M. Romanok, Kaitlyn Colella, Anna C. Deetz, Irene J. Fisher, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Beth Sharack, Lisa Summer, DeMond Timmons, John J. Trainor, Daniel Wieczorek, Jennifer Samson, Timothy J. Reilly, Michael J. Focazio
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Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center, Hurricane Sandy

Imaging pathways in fractured rock using three-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography

Major challenges exist in delineating bedrock fracture zones because these cause abrupt changes in geological and hydrogeological properties over small distances. Borehole observations cannot sufficiently capture heterogeneity in these systems. Geophysical techniques offer the potential to image properties and processes in between boreholes. We used three-dimensional cross borehole electrical resi
Authors
Judith Robinson, Lee Slater, Timothy B. Johnson, Allen M. Shapiro, Claire R. Tiedeman, Dimitrios Ntlargiannis, Carole D. Johnson, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, Pierre Lacombe, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, John W. Lane
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Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, New Jersey Water Science Center

Science and Products

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government