PCE groundwater quality assessment of the University of Northern Iowa campus area

Author

Brian Gedlinske, University of Northern IowaFollow

Availability

Open Access Graduate Research Paper

Keywords

Tetrachloroethylene--Environmental aspects; Groundwater--Quality--Iowa--Cedar Falls; Water--Pollution--Iowa--Cedar Falls--Point source identification;

Abstract

Perchloroethylene (PCE), is a colorless, nonflammable, and relatively insoluble chlorinated solvent once widely used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing operations. Because of its past widespread use, poor solvent management practices, and environmental persistence, PCE is a common contaminant found in groundwater supplies. Potential health concerns include liver problems and increased cancer risk.

This research paper presents the findings of an effort to better characterize the spatial, temporal, and transport attributes of a PCE groundwater plume that exists within the Devonian aquifer underlying the University of Northern Iowa campus and the surrounding area in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Findings reveal the plume underlies the eastern portion of UNI’s campus, is hydraulically influenced by the operation of UNI’s cooling-water wells, and trace amounts of PCE are found in cooling water discharged into the Southwest branch of Dry Run Creek by UNI. Findings also indicate the direction of groundwater flow within the study area is quite different from flow directions estimated in a United States Geological Survey (2002) study. Furthermore, the operation of UNI’s well field provides a degree of hydraulic protection for a nearby municipal drinking water well. Finally, one former drycleaning operation is implicated as the most probable known point source because of its spatial position relative to groundwater flow and aquifer susceptibility.

Find Additional Related Research in UNI ScholarWorks

To find related research in UNI ScholarWorks, go to the collection of Geography Graduate Research Papers written by students in the Department of Geography, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, at the University of Northern Iowa.

Year of Submission

2011

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Geography

First Advisor

David May

Date Original

2011

Object Description

1 PDF file (iv, 37 pages : color illustrations, color maps)

Copyright

©2011 Brian Gedlinske

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Gedlinske, Brian, "PCE groundwater quality assessment of the University of Northern Iowa campus area" (2011). Graduate Research Papers. 78.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/78