Topics in Environmental Forensics
Six Critical Steps To Determine If Groundwater Contamination Came From Your Property.
First: Examine historic records to determine whether the chemicals in the contaminated groundwater correspond to the chemicals that may have originated from your property.
Second: Review existing reports on geology, groundwater, and groundwater chemistry to determine whether there is enough existing, valid information to evaluate geology, groundwater flow paths, chemical distributions, and chemical velocities. If not, this information must be obtained through field and laboratory work.
Third: “Fingerprint” the groundwater on your property and the chemicals in the contaminated groundwater to see if they match. The fingerprint can be isotopic or chemical.
Fourth: Examine the geology to see if there is a potential flow path from your property to where the contamination is identified. Groundwater tends to flow through more permeable material and avoid less permeable material.
Fifth: Determine the groundwater flow direction and then work backwards along the flow line from where the contamination is identified to determine whether this leads to your property. Use conventional and advanced techniques where necessary.
Sixth: Calculate the chemical velocity to determine whether there has been enough time for the chemical to have moved from your property to where the contamination is identified. Again, use conventional and advanced techniques where necessary.
If you have further questions regarding environmental forensics, contact Michael Sklash, Ph.D., P.Eng. at 248.932.0228 or by email msklash@dragun.com.
Dragun Corporation® 2007