Water Resources

Groundwater and Contaminant Transport Modeling to Verify Phytoremediation Effectiveness

Aberdeen Proving Grounds for Weston Solutions, Inc.

Abingdon, Maryland

dse evaluated the remedial performance of a phytoremediation system to remediate an approximate 80 acre site that had been previously used for military munitions testing. The purpose of this evaluation was to:

• Estimate the degree of VOC plume capture (hydraulic containment) generated by the trees;
• Evaluate seasonal effects on tree’s capacity to contain the plume;
• Examine both the lateral and vertical extent of capture;
• Predict the remedial improvements gained by planting 600 additional trees.

dse reviewed the analyses of continuously collected groundwater level data from the previous 19 months. Data also included site-specific weather and tidal data. dse also periodically measured poplar tree transpiration rates, constructed seasonal water table maps, performed hydrograph analysis, developed a groundwater budget, and simulated the aquifer responses to phytoremediation using the MODFLOW computer groundwater model.