Date of Award

6-2002

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Geological and Environmental Sciences

Department

Geosciences

First Advisor

Dr. Duane R. Hampton

Second Advisor

Dr. Daniel Cassidy

Third Advisor

Dr. Alan E. Kehew

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that groundwater and surface water interaction resulted in the development a 1,4-dioxane plume in a glacial aquifer in Scio Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan.

An industrial solvent, 1,4-dioxane, was detected in the groundwater in the area of study in 1986. This area, referred to in this investigation as the Western Plume, is one of several 1,4-dioxane plumes associated with the Pall/Gelman Sciences Inc. (P/GSI) site, an extensively investigated site of groundwater contamination.

1,4-Dioxane in the Western Plume area was initially believed to be the result of contaminated groundwater transported from a main plume area closer to the P/GSI facility. As additional hydrologic and hydrogeologic data were collected in the Western Plume area, it became apparent that a segment of a surface water body, a tributary to Honey Creek (HC) identified as Sisters Lake Drain (SLD), and a small inland lake (Little Lake) were likely losing water bodies and therefore had the potential to be a source of 1, 4-dioxane to the Western Plume area.

The role of groundwater and surface water interaction in the development of groundwater contamination in the study area was investigated by examining: (a) source availability; (b) the hydrologic and hydrogeologic conditions in the study area, and (c) the spatial and temporal distribution of 1,4-dioxane in surface and groundwater.

This study concludes that the source of 1,4-dioxane in the Western Plume area was groundwater and surface water interaction along a portion of the SLD and Little Lake.

Download

Included in

Geology Commons

Share

COinS