Geohydrologic considerations in the management of radioactive waste

Nongaseous radioactive wastes occur as liquids containing high-level concentrations of radionuclides, liquids containing low concentrations of radionuclides, and solids contaminated by radioactivity. Whether released by accident or design into the earth or onto the earth’s surface, only water is capable of transporting significant quantities of radionuclides away from burial sites. Geohydrologic information that must be determined to predict the velocity and direction of waste movement from a site include climate, hydrology, detailed subsurface geology, permeability, porosity, sorptive potential, seismic potential, and geologic history of the area. Since the late 1960’s mathematical models have been used to make predictions of waste transport in some hydrologic systems. Intensive field investigations at each site are needed before these models can be used.