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Modeling of an MTBE plume at Pascoag, Rhode Island

Environmental Geology

An Erratum to this article was published on 26 November 2008

Abstract

A numerical groundwater flow and mass transport model was developed to predict the extent of impact from methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) release on a down-gradient drinking water well field. An MTBE incident in Pascoag, Rhode Island, was used as a case study and the plume’s past and future development was simulated using scenario analysis. The numerical code used was GeoSys/Rockflow, which permits a coupled flow and transport simulation as one object, thus alleviating the need for simulating the MTBE fate with separate flow and transport codes. The numerical model was built on available hydrogeological and chemical data as well as on GIS information of the site. By comparing the simulated results with observed field data, it was found that the model could provide reliable results even when the simulated aquifer was simplified to a two-dimensional flow and transport domain. Finally, the calibrated model was used for exploring a location that may be suitable for a new well field. Despite the model limitations associated with uncertainties of data and simplifying assumptions, numerical modeling of this MTBE contaminated site proved a useful tool and provided guidance for future municipal well field operation strategies and aquifer remediation alternatives.

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Acknowledgments

We like to acknowledge the help of Mr. M. Cote form the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Protection and former URI graduate student Mr. J. Allen. Their knowledge of the field site contributed substantially to this paper. This project was done in cooperation with the Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Germany. We would like to thank the master course “Applied Environmental Geoscience” (AEG) at Tübingen University for funding the field trip of A. Myrttinen to the Pascoag site in Rhode Island.

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Correspondence to A. Myrttinen.

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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1647-8.

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Myrttinen, A., Boving, T. & Kolditz, O. Modeling of an MTBE plume at Pascoag, Rhode Island. Environ Geol 57, 1197–1206 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1416-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1416-8

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