Groundwater Model Calibration For A Hydrocarbon Plume In A Sandy Surficial Aquifer

A gasoline-contaminated surficial aquifer, the site of four years of remediation efforts, was investigated using a semi-quantitative soil extraction procedure to determine the vertical distribution of sorbed contaminants present. The effectiveness of contaminant flushing in highly contaminated soils by aquifer augmentation was demonstrated. The site was modeled using BIOPLUME II, an updated version of the USGS Solute Transport Model. Although the model was effectively calibrated to the groundwater flow through the site, the extreme vertical contaminant concentrations as a function of aquifer elevations and time prevented the acceptable calibration of the pollutant transport model to this site. A three dimensional model should be considered. Keywords: Water pollution; Mathematical models; Petroleum products; Theses. (AW).