Verification of Active and Passive Ground-Water Contamination Remediation Efforts

Abstract

The verification of ground-water contamination remediation efforts requires thorough documentation of subsurface conditions before, during and after cleanup efforts have ceased. The documentation include include proof of: reduction of risk to human or environmental health, achievement of regulatory cleanup concentration goals in soil, gas or liquid media, or verification of continued approach to background environmental quality conditions. Meeting any one or all of these requirements calls for a comprehensive approach to the design and operation of remediation efforts with an emphasis on the monitoring of environmental conditions. These tasks are most challenging for in-situ remediation efforts which employ active (i.e., pumping or vacuum application) rather than passive (i.e., natural water and vapor gradient) conditions.