A high-resolution, quantitative-data approach was implemented at a large, urban industrial facility where trichloroethene (TCE) was used extensively as a cleaning solvent. The site was underlain by river deposits and sedimentary bedrock. Subtle facies changes resulted in solute concentrations that varied by orders of magnitude in distances of only centimeters (cm). This inherent complexity was the impetus for quantitative, high-resolution data. Burgeoning technologies such as the membrane interface probe (MIP) can be effective qualitative screening tools, but are ineffective for accurate injection design or for performance monitoring, especially at sites where dense nonaqueousphase liquid (DNAPL) is present. At this site, the high-resolution program consisted of analyzing 1,291 continuous soil samples from 186 borings and 5,515 groundwater samples from 1,349 monitoring wells. The data were used to calculate mass flux and mass discharge to develop an accurate conceptual site model (CSM), evaluate source and plume strength, and calculate injectate loadings. The benefit of the high-resolution data was to identify zones which transmitted the bulk of the contaminant mass. This insight was necessary to design and implement an effective and economical remedy.
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