Open AccessAssessment of groundwater management at Hanford
Author(s) -
R.A. Deju
Publication year - 1975
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4144793
Subject(s) - groundwater , groundwater contamination , environmental science , hanford site , hazard , contamination , reservation , water resource management , waste management , radioactive waste , aquifer , engineering , computer science , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry , biology , computer network , geotechnical engineering
A comprehensive review of the groundwater management and environmental monitoring programs at the Hanford reservation was initiated in 1973. A large number of recommendations made as a result of this review are summarized. The purpose of the Hanford Hydrology Program is to maintain a groundwater surveillance network to assess contamination of the natural water system. Potential groundwater contamination is primarily a function of waste management decisions. The review revealed that although the hydrology program would greatly benefit from additional improvements, it is adequate to predict levels of contaminants present in the groundwater system. Studies are presently underway to refine advanced mathematical models to use results of the hydrologic investigation in forecasting the response of the system to different long-term management decisions. No information was found which indicates that a hazard through the groundwater pathway presently exists as a result of waste operations at Hanford. (CH