Preliminary Conceptual Models of the Occurrence, Fate, and Transport of Chlorinated Solvents in Karst Regions of Tennessee

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Preliminary Conceptual Models of the Occurrence, Fate, and Transport of Chlorinated Solvents in Karst Regions of Tennessee Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4097 Preliminary Conceptual Models of the Occurrence, Fate, and Transport of Chlorinated Solvents in Karst Regions of Tennessee Prepared by the U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY in cooperation with the TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, DIVISION OF SUPERFUND Preliminary Conceptual Models of the Occurrence, Fate, and Transport of Chlorinated Solvents in Karst Regions of Tennessee By WILLIAM J. WOLFE, CONNOR J. HAUGH, ANK WEBBERS, and TIMOTHY H. DIEHL U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4097 Prepared in cooperation with the TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, DIVISION OF SUPERFUND Nashville, Tennessee 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm name in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report may be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 810 Broadway, Suite 500 Box 25286 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 Denver, Colorado 80225-0286 CONTENTS Glossary................................................................................................................................................................................. vii Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Previous Studies .................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Studies of Chlorinated Solvents, with Emphasis on DNAPL ..................................................................................... 5 Karst Studies................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Studies of Karst Properties Affecting DNAPL Movement ............................................................................... 5 Studies of Karst Contamination......................................................................................................................... 5 Site Studies of DNAPL Contamination in Karst and Fractured Rock ........................................................................ 6 Properties and Processes........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Porous Media............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Fractured Media........................................................................................................................................................... 10 Characteristics of Karst Aquifers in Tennessee..................................................................................................................... 13 Geologic Controls of Karst Aquifers........................................................................................................................... 14 Karst Aquifers of Tennessee........................................................................................................................................ 16 Inner and Outer Central Basin........................................................................................................................... 16 The Highland Rim ............................................................................................................................................. 23 Coves and Escarpments of the Cumberland Plateau ......................................................................................... 24 Valley and Ridge and Western Toe of the Blue Ridge....................................................................................... 24 Conceptual Models of Chlorinated Solvents in Karst Aquifers ............................................................................................ 28 Trapping in the Regolith.............................................................................................................................................. 30 Pooling at Top of Rock................................................................................................................................................ 32 Pooling in Bedrock Diffuse-Flow Zone ...................................................................................................................... 34 Pooling in Karst Conduits............................................................................................................................................ 34 Pooling in Fractures Isolated from Major Zones of Ground-Water Flow ................................................................... 36 Case Studies in Selected Karst Regions ................................................................................................................................ 37 Selection Criteria for Case Studies.............................................................................................................................. 37 Case Study Discussions............................................................................................................................................... 44 Case Study 26-505, Coffee County, Highland Rim........................................................................................... 45 Case Study 59-502, Marshall County, Inner Central Basin............................................................................... 45 Case Study 82-516, Sullivan County, Valley and Ridge ................................................................................... 45 Case Study 89-504, Warren County, Eastern Highland Rim............................................................................. 46 Case Study 95-501, Wilson County, Inner Central Basin.................................................................................. 46 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................... 47 Selected References............................................................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix—Case Study Summary Sheets ............................................................................................................................. 57 Contents iii FIGURES 1. Map showing distribution of carbonate rocks in Tennessee....................................................................................... 3 2–4. Diagrams showing: 2. Wetting and nonwetting fluids in various media............................................................................................... 9 3. Matrix diffusion as explained by Pankow and Cherry, 1996 ............................................................................ 12 4. Processes controlling DNAPL distribution and fate in the subsurface ............................................................. 14 5. Map showing location of karst regions of Tennessee................................................................................................. 17 6–9. Generalized hydrogeologic section through: 6. The inner Central Basin of Tennessee ............................................................................................................... 21 7. The outer Central Basin of Tennessee ............................................................................................................... 22 8. The Eastern Highland Rim in Tennessee........................................................................................................... 25 9. The Cumberland Plateau escarpments in Tennessee ......................................................................................... 26 10. The Valley and Ridge in Tennessee................................................................................................................... 27 11. A “western toe” type aquifer in Tennessee........................................................................................................ 29 12. Diagram showing distribution of potential DNAPL-accumulation sites in a hypothetical karst setting ................... 31 13. Map showing location of selected Tennessee State Superfund sites with known chlorinated-solvent contamination within karst regions of Tennessee....................................................................................................... 38 TABLES 1. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of the chlorinated-solvent compounds which have helped lead to extensive ground-water contamination by this compound class (From Pankow and Cherry, 1996) .............................................................................................................................. 7 2. Properties of selected chlorinated organic compounds .............................................................................................
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