Groundwater application. George Lilly owns a nice home near Crossroads and disco

Question

Groundwater application.

George Lilly owns a nice home near Crossroads and discovered that his well water developed an unusual taste with slight discoloration. He called a local driller who advised Lilly to have his water analyzed. Lilly called Winston Labs, and they gave him instructions for taking a sample of his water and transporting it to their lab. The analysis revealed high levels of barium that greatly exceeded the state drinking water standards. The Chief Chemist at Winston reported these results to Mr. Lilly and obtained his permission to release them to the County Health Department.

The County Health Department, concerned about contamination of additional wells, responded by contacting all homeowners in the area of the Lilly property. Following recommendations from state regulatory agencies, the county began collecting information to investigate this problem. You have been hired to supervise the investigation.

Your job will be to map groundwater levels throughout the county, determine the direction of groundwater flow, and prepare a map of the contaminant plume. In your Principles of Groundwater Flow course, you learned how to perform those duties, but you decide that you should review the textbook in preparation for this assignment.

To complete your work, you will use the links on the left, which will help you:

·         Prepare a contour map of the water table, given casing elevations and depth-to-water information for a number of wells;

·         Determine the direction of groundwater flow using the water table map;

·         Map a contaminant plume, given a water table map with contours and flow directions along with water analyses from wells in the area;

·         Determine which wells are at risk from future contamination.

Part A - Risk of future contamination

A good field hydrologist is always up-to-date on the methods of reading water table maps and assessing contamination risk. Make sure you have reviewed all theYour Assignment links provided. Your assignment is to assess the risk to the local area from contamination discovered in the Ruse well. Arrange the following based on the danger of future contamination. Assume the source of contamination has been halted. There is a limited supply of contaminant that will diffuse over time.

Part B - Contaminant transport and water table maps

The following water table maps were mixed up as they were carried to your meeting on contaminant plumes in the Hazard City region. Luckily you have sketches of the plumes in the area! Match the Maps with the Plumes and then you can get back to your meeting on how to deal with each in turn. Be sure to review the Your Assignment – Water Table Maps and Your Assignment – Contaminant Transport links if you have trouble.

Now, let’s see how groundwater flow and contamination can be affected by other processes such as removing groundwater. Do you think that there is a connection between the flow direction of surface water features (rivers or lakes) and groundwater?

Part C - Removing groundwater and its effect on the water table

If George Lilly begins to irrigate his farm and this significantly lowers the water elevation in his well, what could this mean about the groundwater flow of the surrounding area?

Select the correct answer from (1,2,3,4)

1. The groundwater flow could change, causing the water to flow toward Lilly's farm.

2. The groundwater flow could change, causing the well to go dry.

3. The groundwater flow wouldn't change, since withdrawing groundwater does not affect the water elevation.

4. The groundwater flow could change, causing the water to flow away from Lilly's farm.

Part D - Contaminant transport and the interaction with stream channels

How might a contaminant plume be affected by intersecting a stream channel?

Select the correct answer from (1,2,3,4)

1. The stream channel would not affect the contamination plume.

2. The contamination would be concentrated down the stream channel.

3. The contamination would be diffused into the landscape.

4.The stream channel would cause the contamination to stop flowing.

Part E - Contaminant movement in the Hazard City region

If a large toxic spill soaked into the ground on Highway 342 two miles east of Hopper, which city is most likely to be affected by the contamination?

Select the correct answer from (1,2,3,4)

1.Hopper

Wrightstown

Hutton

Hazard City

Explanation / Answer

Map C – Plume B

Map D – Plume C

Map C – Plume B

Map D – Plume C

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