NATURAL ATTENUATION OF CHLORINATED SOLVENTS IN GROUNDWATER
Monica P. Suarez*
Tricia J. Rittaler
Hanadi S. Rifai
Sarah Hausman
University of Houston
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
4800 Calhoun Rd., Rm N107,
Engineering Bldg.1
Houston, TX 77204
Voice: 713-743-0753
Fax: 713-743-4260
E-mail: monica.suarez@mail.uh.edu
Natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons has become an accepted remediation remedy and the application to chlorinated solvent sites has also emerged as a viable remediation alternative, including those sites affected due to drycleaning operations. Available data from a total of 137 drycleaning sites registered with the Texas Voluntary Cleanup Program were compiled and used to evaluate the efficacy of utilizing natural attenuation as a remediation strategy. An evaluation of the extent of soil and groundwater contamination and the relationships between maximum chlorinated solvent concentrations, daughter products, and site characteristics was conducted. Correlation analyses were completed between plume geometries, depth to water, seepage velocity, duration of facility operation, and maximum soil and source concentrations. Data gathered from the evaluation of plume stabilities, point and source decay rates, and bulk attenuation rates were also compiled to further evaluate the potential for application of natural attenuation at these sites.