Using a Flux-Based Approach to Evaluate the Treatment Efficiency of a Permeable Reactive Barrier(Abstract)

摘要

The treatment efficiency of remedial actions such as permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) is often evaluated based on the decrease in concentrations measured in upstream and downstream monitoring wells. Large spatial variability in the concentration levels is often observed due to narrow plumes extending from small hot spots of residual DNAPL located upstream the remediation facility. Together with spatial variability in the hydrau- lic properties of the aquifer, this indicates that the contaminant load to the PRB may have an even higher level of spatial variability. Determining the decrease in contaminant flux of the plume passing the PRB is in many cases a much more relevant parameter since in many risk scenarios it is the load of the contaminant plume to the receptor (a local stream or a drinking water well) which is important.