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Modeling a Ground Water Circulation Well Alternative
Author(s) -
Elmore Andrew Curtis,
DeAngelis Luca
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.2004.tb00706.x
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , aquifer , groundwater , environmental science , petroleum engineering , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , geotechnical engineering
Ground water circulation wells (GCWs) provide an appealing alternative to typical pump‐and‐treat ground water remediation systems because of the inherent resource‐conservative nature of the GCW systems. GCW performance prediction is challenging because the consideration of extraction and recharge in a single well is unusual for most practitioners, the technology is relatively new, and a meaningful body of literature has not been published. A three‐part evaluation process using state‐of‐the‐practice numerical ground water flow and mass transport models was developed for application during GCW pilot studies at the former Nebraska Ordnance Plant site. A small‐scale ground water flow model was developed during the pilot study planning process to predict the system performance and to locate performance‐measuring monitoring wells. Key predictions included the capture zone predicted to develop upgradient of the GCW, the downgradierit GCW recharge zone, and the circulation zone centered on the GCW. The flow model was subsequently verified using ground water elevation data and contaminant concentration data collected during pilot study operation. Aquifer parameters were reestimated as a result of the verification process. Those parameter values were used as input to a larger scale model, which was used to develop a remedial alternative consisting of multiple GCW systems.