Relative Difficulty of Cleaning up Contaminated Aquifers as a Function of
Contaminant Chemistry and Hydrogeology |
| Hydrogeology |
Contaminant Chemistry |
Mobile
Dissolved
(degrades/
volatilizes) |
Mobile
Dissolved |
Strongly
Sorbed
Dissolved
(degrades/
volatilizes) |
Strongly
Sorbed
Dissolved |
Separate
Phase
LNAPL |
Separate
Phase
DNAPL |
| Homogeneous, single layer |
1a/ |
1-2 |
2 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
3 |
Homogeneous,
Multiple layers |
1 |
1-2 |
2 |
2-3 |
2-3 |
3 |
| Heterogeneous, single layer |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
Heterogeneous,
Multiple layers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
| Fractured rock |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
| a / Relative difficulty of cleanup, where 1 is easiest and 4 is most difficult. Table adapted from Parsons (2000a), and based on NRC (1994). |
