In situ reactive gate

• US 6,280,118 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arcadis Geraghty & Miller Inc. (Arcadis N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Arcadis Geraghty & Miller Inc. (Arcadis N.V.)
• Inventors: OʼBrien, Kent, Keyes, Gary, Suthersan, Suthan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walker, Zakiya
• Application Number:
  US09/591,554
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 405/128, 405/128.45, 405/129.6, 405/129.7, 588/249, 166/246, 435/262.5, 210/747
• US Class Current: 405/128.45
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/00 Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage C02F3/00 - C02F9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/00 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage C02F1/006 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system are described for removing contaminants from the phreatic zone, also known as the saturation zone, or groundwater. A barrier wall is constructed below the ground surface and in the path of flow of a contaminated groundwater plume. A well is constructed in advance of the barrier wall and is connected to the barrier wall via a pipe. Various remediation media may be lowered into the well to perform remediation on the contaminated groundwater before it passes through the barrier wall.

Claims

1. A groundwater remediation system, comprising:

a barrier wall constructed in the path of flow of a contaminated groundwater plume;

a first well constructed between the barrier wall and the groundwater plume, said well having a permeable lower portion and removable remediation media;

a pathway connecting said permeable lower portion of said well to said barrier wall, said pathway passing through said barrier wall in a manner such that the contaminated groundwater first passes through the permeable lower portion containing the remediation media, the pathway, and then the barrier wall.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second well constructed after the barrier wall, said second well adapted to redirect the remediated groundwater back to the contaminated plume.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable remediation media is housed within a permeable bag that is adapted to be lowered into the first well.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remediation media is activated carbon.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remediation media is crushed oyster shells.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remediation media is an ion exchange media.

7. A method for the remediation of a contaminated groundwater plume, said method comprising the steps of:

constructing a barrier wall in the path of flow of said groundwater plume;

constructing a first well between the barrier wall and the groundwater plume, said first well including a permeable lower portion adapted to receive remediation media;

providing a pathway through said barrier wall to said permeable lower portion of said first well, thereby defining a gate; and

lowering a remediation media into said first well down to said gate.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

constructing a second well after said barrier wall and redirecting the remediated groundwater back to said contaminated plume.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said remediation media is activated carbon.

10. A groundwater remediation system, comprising:

a barrier wall constructed in the path of flow of a contaminated groundwater plume;

a first well constructed between the barrier wall and the groundwater plume, said well having a permeable lower portion;

a pipe connecting said permeable lower portion of said well to said barrier wall, said pipe passing through said barrier wall in a manner such that the contaminated groundwater first passes through the permeable lower portion, the pipe, and then the barrier wall;

a removable remediation media located in the permeable lower portion of the well, at the location of the pipe, to act as a gate through which the contaminated groundwater must pass; and

a second well constructed after the barrier wall.