116-4 Evaluating the Impacts of a Surface Barrier with a Hydraulic-Conductivity-Reduction Factor.



Monday, October 17, 2011
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall C, Street Level

Fred Zhang1, Chris Strickland1, Jim G. Field2, Dan L. Parker2 and Ray E. Clayton1, (1)Battelle Pacific NW Lab., Richland, WA
(2)Washington River Protection Solutions, Richland, WA
One of the most common effective techniques for contaminant remediation in the vadose zone is to use a surface barrier to reduce or eliminate soil-water flow in order to reduce the contaminant flux to the underlying groundwater. Confirming the reduction of soil-water flow is challenging because of the difficulty of measuring soil-water flux directly. We propose a hydraulic-conductivity factor as an indicator to quantify the reduction of soil-water flow below a surface barrier. The factor can be calculated using the measured soil-water content or pressure. The pressure-based formula was applied to the interim surface barrier at the Hanford’s T Tank Farm.
See more from this Division: S01 Soil Physics
See more from this Session: Advances In Soil and Vadose Zone Hydrology: The Contributions of Glendon Gee: II