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Use and Measurement of Mass Flux and Mass Discharge

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About ITRC
Acknowledgements
Special Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
2. Concept and Theory of Mass Flux and Mass Discharge
2.1 Basic Concepts
2.2 Calculating Mass Flux and Mass Discharge
2.3 Approaches to Mass Flux Estimation
2.4 Factors that Affect Mass Flux
2.5 Managing Uncertainties
3. Applications for Mass Flux and Mass Discharge
3.1 Site Characterization and Conceptual Site Model
3.2 Potential Impact and Exposure Evaluation
3.3 Remedy Selection and Design
3.4 Performance Monitoring and Optimization
3.5 Compliance Monitoring
3.6 Site Prioritization
3.7 Conceptual Examples for Using Mass Flux and Mass Discharge
3.8 Regulatory Considerations
4. Measuring Mass Flux and Mass Discharge
4.1 Transect Methods
4.2 Well Capture/Pumping Test Methods
4.3 Passive Flux Meters
4.4 Transects Based on Isocontours
4.5 Solute Transport Models
4.6 Key Considerations Using Models to Obtain Mass Flux
4.7 General Comparison of Five Mass Flux Measurement Methods
4.8 Managing Uncertainty
5. Key Findings
6. Research Needs
Appendices
Appendix A: Mass Flux Case Study List
Appendix B: Overview of Comparison Studies with Passive Flux Meters
Appendix C: Team Contacts
Appendix D: Glossary
Appendix E: Acronyms and Symbols
Appendix F: References
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Use and Measurement of Mass Flux and Mass Discharge
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ACRONYMS

 

AFB               Air Force Base

ASTM            American Society of Testing and Materials

BTEX             Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes

BHD              Borehole dilution

bgs                 below ground surface

COC              contaminant of concern

CPT               cone penetrometer testing

CSM              conceptual site model

DCE              dichloroethene

DNAPL         dense, nonaqueous-phase liquid

ECOS            Environmental Council of the States

ERIS              Environmental Research Institute of the States

ESTCP           Environmental Security Technology Certification Program

GMS              Groundwater Modeling Software

gpm                gallons per minute

HRP               high-resolution piezocone

IPT                 integral pump test

ITRC             Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council

LC                  Launch Complex

MCL              maximum contaminant level

MIP               membrane interface probe

MIPT              modified integral pump test

MLS               multilevel sampler

MNA            monitored natural attenuation

MtBE            methyl tertiary-butyl ether

NAPL           nonaqueous-phase liquid

NASA           National Aeronautics and Space Administration

PAH            Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PCE               perchloroethene

PFM               passive flux meter

PZ                  piezometer

RAO              remedial action objective

RI                  remedial investigation

SEAR            surfactant-enhanced aquifer restoration

SERDP          Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program

TCE               trichloroethene

TCW              tandem circulating well

TM                 transect method

TMB              trimethylbenzene

TRW              tandem recirculating well

USEPA          U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

VOA              volatile organic analysis

VOC              volatile organic compound

SYMBOLS

 

A                area of the control plane

Ai               area of the polygon

Aj               flow area through polygon

b                uniform thickness, aquifer thickness

C               contaminant concentration

°C              degrees Centigrade, Celsius

CF              averaged Aj area associated with an individual measurement (m2)

CF              flux averaged concentrations

Cj               concentration of constituent at polygon cm (centimeter)

Cn              individual concentration

Co              initial dissolved aqueous resident tracer concentration individual measurement point in the pore fluid transect (µg/L)

Csw             contaminant concentration in water extracted from the supply well (mass/volume)

d               day

ft               foot, feet

g                gram

i                 hydraulic gradient

ij                hydraulic gradient at individual point (cm/cm)

J                   mass flux (mass/time/area)

Jc               time-averaged advective contaminant mass flux

Ji                mass flux measurement at location ihydraulic conductivity

kg              kilogram

kg/year      kilograms per year

Kj               individual hydraulic conductivity at polygon term

Kn              individual Kj hydraulic conductivity term at individual point (cm/sec)

Kow            octanol-water partition coefficient

Kp                  Kreundlich equilibrium partition

Ksp               mineral solubility product

L               liter

L                length

L2               area

L3               volume

L3/L2/t        volume per area per time (L/m2/d)

m              meter

M               mass

Mc              mass of contaminant sorbed

Md              mass discharge (e.g., g/area)

Mdj              mass discharge through polygon mg  milligram

Mr              relative mass of tracer remaining in the PFM sorbent

M/t             mass per time (e.g., g/d)

M/L2/t        mass per area per time (e.g., g/m2/d)

Pb              bulk density of the sorptive matrix

q               groundwater velocity, specific discharge, average

Q               groundwater flux discharge

qj               specific discharge through polygon

q0               Darcy groundwater flux, Darcy groundwater velocity

qsw, Qsw      pumping rate of supply well

r                   radius of the PFM cylinder

Rd              retardation of the resident tracer on the PFM sorbent

Rdc             retardation of the contaminant on the PFM sorbent

t                 time

T                aquifer transmissivity (volume/time sampling duration)

w               mass discharge of plume near water supply well (mass/time)

α                convergence or divergence of flow around the PFM

Δh              head difference between the pumping well and the observation well

Δx              distance between pumping well and observation well

μg/L          micrograms per liter

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Use and Measurement of Mass Flux and Mass Discharge

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