Contaminants in Groundwater near Superfund sites in Pennsylvania
USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of Superfund and other hazardous-waste sites in Pennsylvania, in cooperation with EPA. Additional cooperative support has been provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, National Park Service, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, and local government agencies.
Highlights
- Many Superfund sites in southeastern Pennsylvania are underlain by Newark Basin fractured-sedimentary-rock aquifers, which historically have been used for industrial and drinking-water supply
- Field testing characterized the highly heterogeneous and anisotropic strata showing the predominant role of dipping bed-oriented fractures in contaminant migration
- Measured water levels in wells were used to construct water-level maps, and aquifer testing revealed high-permeability hydraulic connections between wells
- Groundwater-flow models were developed based on synthesis of monitoring data and field-test results for selected sites
- Simulations of transport paths were compared to observed contaminant distributions, and the simulated effect of changes in pumping on flow paths helped optimize pump and treat system operation
- Areas contributing recharge to streams and discharging wells were mapped using the groundwater-flow models; as groundwater withdrawals in the area have decreased, a higher proportion of local recharge ultimately discharges to streams
USGS has also investigated groundwater contamination in sedimentary and carbonate aquifers near Philadelphia and in fractured-rock aquifers near former Navy bases in southeastern Pennsylvania in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and others.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Interpretation of geophysical logs, aquifer tests, and water levels in wells in and near the North Penn Area 7 Superfund site, Upper Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 2000-02
Altitude and configuration of the water-level surface in Mesozoic sedimentary rocks at and near the North Penn Area 7 Superfund Site, Upper Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, December 4-6, 2000
Description of borehole geophysical and geologist logs, Berks Sand Pit Superfund Site, Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Aquifer tests and simulation of ground-water flow in Triassic sedimentary rocks near Colmar, Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania
Case study for delineating a contributing area to a well in a fractured siliciclastic-bedrock aquifer near Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Historical ground-water-flow patterns and trends in iron concentrations in the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system in parts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey
Evaluation of borehole geophysical logging, aquifer-isolation tests, distribution of contaminants, and water-level measurements at the North Penn Area 5 Superfund Site, Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania
Evaluation of borehole geophysical and video logs, at Butz Landfill Superfund Site, Jackson Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Evaluation of borehole geophysical logs and hydraulic tests, phase III, at AIW Frank/Mid-County Mustang Superfund Site, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Simulation of ground-water flow in the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system near the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, and the Point Breeze Refinery, southern Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Simulation of aquifer tests and ground-water flowpaths at the local scale in fractured shales and sandstones of the Brunswick Group and Lockatong Formation, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Evaluation of geophysical logs and slug tests, phase II, at AIW Frank/Mid-County Mustang Superfund Site, Chester County, Pennsylvania
USGS has investigated groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the vicinity of Superfund and other hazardous-waste sites in Pennsylvania, in cooperation with EPA. Additional cooperative support has been provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, National Park Service, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, and local government agencies.
Highlights
- Many Superfund sites in southeastern Pennsylvania are underlain by Newark Basin fractured-sedimentary-rock aquifers, which historically have been used for industrial and drinking-water supply
- Field testing characterized the highly heterogeneous and anisotropic strata showing the predominant role of dipping bed-oriented fractures in contaminant migration
- Measured water levels in wells were used to construct water-level maps, and aquifer testing revealed high-permeability hydraulic connections between wells
- Groundwater-flow models were developed based on synthesis of monitoring data and field-test results for selected sites
- Simulations of transport paths were compared to observed contaminant distributions, and the simulated effect of changes in pumping on flow paths helped optimize pump and treat system operation
- Areas contributing recharge to streams and discharging wells were mapped using the groundwater-flow models; as groundwater withdrawals in the area have decreased, a higher proportion of local recharge ultimately discharges to streams
USGS has also investigated groundwater contamination in sedimentary and carbonate aquifers near Philadelphia and in fractured-rock aquifers near former Navy bases in southeastern Pennsylvania in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and others.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.