GEOPHYSICAL MODELING AND MAPPING OF CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER AROUND THREE WASTE DISPOSAL SITES IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

We present an approach to the use of electromagnetic geophysical methods for delineating groundwater contamination, and test the concepts at three waste disposal sites. The approach includes a technique for modelling a site's response to a variety of instruments, and a device-independent method of contouring the data. The modelling attempts to account for the noise inherent in the measurement process, particularly the effects of lateral variations in stratigraphy. These concepts are evaluated by comparing the geophysical response to groundwater conductivities measured in sampling wells. We conclude that geophysics offers a cost-effective supplement to drilling, and that it is best used in a reconnaissance mode to map the general distribution of contamination prior to a detailed sampling program. The correlation between the observed and predicted geophysical response as a function of groundwater conductivity is as good as can be expected given the uncertainties in the process. The methodology proposed is simple to use and practical.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Research Council of Canada

  1200 Montreal Road
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada  K1A 0R6
• Authors:
  • Greenhouse, J P
  • Slaine, D D
• Publication Date: 1986-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 372-384
• Serial:
  • CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL JOURNAL
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: National Research Council of Canada

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Contaminants; Electromagnets; Geophysics; Groundwater; Mapping; Mathematical models; Measurement; Waste disposal facilities
• Uncontrolled Terms: Contamination
• Old TRIS Terms: Geophysical measurements; Groundwater investigation
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Terminals and Facilities; I41: General Soil Surveys;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00458933
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1986 12:00AM