Verification of Methods for Assessing the Sustainability of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)
Abstract
ESTCP funded a technology demonstration to validate an approach to assess MNA sustainability at chlorinated solvents sites. Three components were to be validated: Potentially Bioavailable Organic Carbon (PBOC), the source zone depletion (SZD) function, and the long-term sustainability (LTS) using PBOC and DO concentration data. PBOC was quantified at 17 chlorinated sites representing a range of conditions. Positive correlations were observed between PBOC and other parameters. For the SZD function, the success criteria was achieved but quantifying confidence limits proved difficult as the level of site complexity increased. The LTS assessment, which answers the question will reductive dechlorination be sustained?, was demonstrated and successfully implemented. Costs for implementing the MNA sustainability assessment were estimated for each component. The estimated cost for running a single PBOC test is $75 per sample. The quality and quantity of available data is an important consideration when implementing this technology. One rate-limiting step comes in estimating the depletion of the source zone mass flux.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA582046
Entities
People
- Carmen A. Lebron
- Francis H. Chapelle
- Jack C. Parker
- John T. Novak
- Mark A. Widdowson
- Michael A. Singletary
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command