Understanding contaminant flux: why the use of innovative aquifer measurement methods is key to successful treatment using injectable permeable reactive barriers

Length: 1 hour
Language: English
Presenter: Craig Sandefur and Gareth Leonard (REGENESIS)

This webinar is presented by Craig Sandefur, Vice President of Remedial Applications Development at REGENESIS, in which he introduces and discusses groundwater contamination mass flux through aquifers, the latest measurement approaches and how this affects the design process. To access the recording, please fill in the access form.

Key points covered:

• The use of conventional methods to measure aquifer characteristics and the avoidance of the assumption of a ‘homogeneous and isotropic aquifer’
• In situ passive flux measurement: how it works and its advantages over traditional methods
• Consideration of the aspect ratio of a plume: how the shape of a plume can help create accurate designs
• How to identify and quantify the target treatment zone aquifer units that matter the most
• Incorporating injection testing to improve the final design
• Real-world examples and observations from multiple sites

Contaminant plumes migrate through flux zones, comprising a small percentage of the overall aquifer thickness. The webinar will explain how accurately locating these zones, measuring the contaminant mass and groundwater velocity within them is crucial for the successful design and performance of an Injectable Permeable Reactive Barrier (i-PRB).

Discussion is made of the use of ‘water resource’ methods (groundwater extraction tests and slug tests) to measure i-PRB design-critical aquifer characteristics. These methods provide aquifer bulk averages and are not able to identify or measure the contaminant mass flux zones that control contaminant migration. The webinar will discuss how modern passive flux meters allows accurate location of flux zones, measurement of groundwater velocity and contaminant flux and how this can be used with plume-shape ratio analysis to provide a greater understanding of contaminant flux behaviour allowing for the most appropriate and cost-effective i-PRB designs to be completed.

About the presenters:

Craig Sandefur
Vice President Remedial Applications Development, North America | REGENESIS

Craig is a senior technical team member with over 20 years’ experience at REGENESIS, who has been a key part of the commercialisation and optimisation of a range of innovative technologies, as well as providing technical design and application strategies for large and complex projects. Currently, Craig is focussed on the use of various Flux Tools to identify and quantify contaminant mass flux units embedded in heterogenous treatment zones.

Gareth Leonard
Managing Director, Europe | REGENESIS

Gareth is the Managing Director of REGENESIS in Europe. He leads a dedicated team of in situ remediation specialists to provide solutions for the contaminated land industry. Gareth has over 20 years contaminated land experience, having provided successful remediation designs and implementation for over a thousand projects across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.