Bridgewater, New Jersey

Project at a Glance:

• Investigation and remediation of soil and ground water at this 37-acre industrial facility located within the Newark Basin.
• Whitman was successful in getting NJDEP approval for an alternative remedial method for the remediation of PCB-contaminated soil.
• Whitman designed and performed the remedial investigation, which included analysis of the impact of on-site contamination on the nearby municipal well field. Proper interpretation of hydrogeologic data was critical to the design and success of the selected remediation system.

Whitman completed the investigation and remediation of this 37-acre industrial facility located within the complex geologic formation known as the Newark Basin. The concern that ground water contamination found at the site would adversely affect the water supply for the Borough of Manville promoted an area-wide hydrogeologic investigation.

Water supply for Manville is provided by several deep wells adjacent to the Raritan River and 3,000 feet south of the Prospect site.

Whitman was challenged with the following project tasks:

1. Proper characterization of the extent of volatile organic ground water contamination in a complex fractured bedrock aquifer
2. Determination of the off-site extent of ground water contamination, particularly the determination of the possible impacts on the nearby municipal public supply wells.
3. Implementation of source control requirements consisting of pump-and-treat operations to hydraulically contain the spread of contaminated ground water from the source areas.

Proper interpretation of hydrogeologic data was critical to assess the potential impact to the Manville wells and in the design and success of the selected remediation system.

In order to characterize the hydrogeologic conditions, several innovative characterization techniques were used, including:

• Strike and dip measurements
• Downhole video surveys
• Water level data
• Slug testing
• Electrical conductivity logging
• In-well flow tracing
• Regular and grab chemical well sampling

Soil contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) is consolidated for future capping. Whitman was successful in getting this alternative remedial method approved by the NJDEP. As a result, the client saved money and the project was completed quickly.

Whitman geologists oversee the installation of a monitoring well, which is used to gain useful information for the proper characterization of the site’s hydrogeological condition.