The Groundwater Project

Preserved Books

Applied Research: Ground-water Contaminant Transport at Rocky Mountain Arsenal

In 1991, an experiment was conducted in a very complex contaminant plume at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) near Denver, Colorado.  Extensive contamination of RMA groundwater had resulted from the Army’s manufacturing of chemical and incendiary weapons (e.g. mustard, lewisite, napalm) in the mid-1940s and the nerve agents VX and GB (Sarin) in the early […]

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Design, Operation, and Maintenance for Sustainable Underground Storage Facilities Cover

With rising water demand, declining groundwater levels, and environmental concerns, achieving a sustainable drinking water supply has become a global priority. Managed aquifer recharge has emerged as a cost-effective solution, supported by advances in geochemistry, microbiology, and hydraulics. This project aimed to identify key factors for the successful design, operation, and maintenance of sustainable underground

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The Incredible Adventures of Water and his Friends

This science-based comic book follows the adventures of Sam, Tuli, and H₂O as they explore critical questions about water conservation, management, and sustainability in Namibia. With water being scarce and groundwater serving as the primary resource, the book educates young readers on the importance of protecting and efficiently using water. Through engaging storytelling, it empowers

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Groundwater Pollution: Theory, Methodology, Modelling and Practical Rules

This book provides a detailed exploration of groundwater contamination. It covers the theory behind groundwater pollution, discussing sources, types and the mechanisms of their transport. It provides methodologies for sampling, analyzing, and monitoring groundwater quality. It then describes mathematical and computer models used to simulate groundwater flow and pollutant transport. The book offers practical rules,

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The Hyporheic Handbook: A handbook on the groundwater–surface water interface and hyporheic zone for environment managers

This comprehensive 12-chapter book, written by leading international experts on surface water and groundwater processes and interactions, critically reviews the state-of-the-art global understanding of several key areas of the Hyporheic Zone (the groundwater–surface water interface, especially near rivers). Each chapter deals with a specific theme, including water flow rates and exchanges, and fluvial, sedimentological, hydrological,

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Guidance on Natural Source Zone Depletion

Natural source zone depletion (NSZD) can be a sustainable risk-management strategy for petroleum hydrocarbon light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) impacting the subsurface. NSZD refers to the combination of naturally occurring processes – biodegradation, vaporisation, volatilisation and dissolution – that act to reduce LNAPL mass, saturation and mobility in the subsurface. Recent advances in NSZD are

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Guidance on the Assessment and Monitoring of Natural Attenuation of Contaminants in Groundwater

Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) can be a sustainable risk management strategy for a wide range of groundwater contaminants, where environmental data are collected and assessed that demonstrate natural attenuation will protect receptors from pollution or harm. Natural attenuation refers to the combination of physical, chemical and biological processes that act, without human intervention, to reduce

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Canada’s Groundwater Resources

This book represents the first comprehensive, synthesized single volume assessment of groundwater resources in Canada. Walkerton, water crisis, climate change, land use, drought, water energy, water bulk transfers, urbanization, transboundary aquifers — all of these are keywords and issues affecting Canadians today. This book contains the work of 45 noted Canadian groundwater scientists. It provides

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The hidden wealth of nations: the economy of groundwater in an era of climate change

Groundwater is our most important freshwater resource. But the lack of systematic analysis of its economic importance has evaded attention from policymakers and the general public—threatening the resource. Groundwater provides 49 percent of the water withdrawn for domestic use by the global population and around 43 percent of all water withdrawn for irrigation. This report

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Seeing The Invisible

This report describes why, and how, groundwater quality is vital to human health, agriculture, industry and the environment. In turn, this explains why it is so important to World Bank staff and clients, as well as diverse managers and administrators in countries and economies at all stages of development.

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Groundwater Quality Monitoring

This is a companion volume to “Seeing the Invisible: A Strategic Report on Groundwater Quality,” which explains why groundwater quality is so important to managers of development programs in the World Bank and elsewhere. Its purpose is to provide managers and their teams with practical guidance on how to set up and manage a groundwater

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Contaminant Transport Through Aquitards: Technical Guidance for Aquitard Assessment

This is Part Two of a two-volume set that provides information for groundwater managers to gain an understanding of aquitards. The book set provides technical guidance for evaluating aquitard integrity and predicting chemical and microbial transport to underlying aquifers. Aquifers and aquitards make up groundwater flow systems, with aquitards having much lower permeability than aquifers.

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Contaminant Transport Through Aquitards:State of the Science

This is Part One of a two-volume set that provides information for groundwater managers to gain an understanding of aquitards. The book set provides technical guidance for evaluating aquitard integrity and predicting chemical and microbial transport to underlying aquifers. Aquifers and aquitards make up groundwater flow systems, with aquitards having much lower permeability than aquifers.

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Processes Controlling the Natural Attenuation of Fuel Hydrocarbons and MTBE in the UK Chalk Aquifer

This report summarizes research completed from May 2001 to November 2004 to evaluate processes controlling the natural attenuation (NA) of petroleum hydrocarbons and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in the Upper Chalk aquifer at the site of an unleaded fuel spill in St Albans, southeast England. The unsaturated zone and saturated zone of the aquifer

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Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Groundwater

This document provides guidance on assessing the risks to groundwater and surface water from petroleum hydrocarbon compounds. It complements the Environment Agency’s guidance given in the Remedial Targets Methodology (Environment Agency, 2006a and 2006b) and should be read alongside that report and Groundwater Protection: Principles and Practice (GP3, Environment Agency, 2013). The objective of this guidance is to establish

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An Illustrated Handbook of LNAPL Transport and Fate in the Subsurface

This illustrated handbook presents best-practice guidance for the assessment and remediation of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) in the subsurface. LNAPLs notably include fuels and oils, for example petrol (gasoline), diesel and heating oils, and are amongst the most commonly encountered organic contaminants in the subsurface environment due to their ubiquitous use, accidental release and,

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The Geochemistry of Natural Waters

This book examines both theoretical and practical approaches to solving problems related to the geochemistry of natural waters, primarily in fresh water settings. This third edition emphasizes environmental issues, given the growing environmental regulatory requirements of the times. It provides information and techniques for estimating the source of a particular water composition and for predicting

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