Complete Redefinition of Conceptual Site Model based

on a High-Resolution Site Characterization Approach –

A Case study of a High-Risk Site Contaminated by
Chlorinated Compounds

G u i l h e r m e D a i n e se Va r e l a
HRSC in the definition of the Conceptual Site Model

September, 24th
RemTech Expo 2020 (21-25 September) FerraraFiere www.remtechexpo.com
 Case Study – São Paulo State, Brazil
• Former Industrial Site:
– Inside current residential zone in metropolitan region;
– Change of use of the site (from industrial to residential).

• Main target:
– Map possible chlorinated secondary sources using HRSC
Conceptual Site Model (CSM) Pre-HRSC
• Primary sources (non active): Infiltration wells for waste disposal
• Start of site contamination management -> chlorinated compounds were found in groundwater
• Change of the use of the site stopped
2001

• Complementary Investigation and Human Health Risk Assessment

• 42 boreholes along with 55 soil samples (all at 8 m depth)
• 31 more monitoring wells installed
• 10 sub-slabs
2010 - 2013 • Human Health Risk confirmed for indoor and outdoor inhalation of chlorinated compounds

• Emergency SVE installed

• 6 more boreholes along with 9 soil samples
• 232 passive vapor samplers installed for source characterization
2014 - 2019 • Dissolved phase responsible for vapor intrusion
 Conceptual Site Model (CSM) Pre-HRSC
• Questions asked:
– Where is the contamination in the unsaturated zone?
– Were secondary sources entirely found?
– Where are your flow and storage layers?
– Is there a preferential pathway for vapor? Where is it coming from?

STOP GO

HIGH RESOLUTION SITE

CHARACTERIZATION - (HRSC)
3D Mapping: High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC)

• High Resolution Site Characterization

– Finkler Fast Change Unit:

– MiHPT (Membrane Interface Probe +

Hydraulic Profiling Tool)
– OiHPT: (Optical Image Profiler + Hydraulic
Profiling Tool)

MIP OIP HPT

(Membrane Interface (Optical (Hydraulic
Probe) Image Profiling
Profiler) Tool)
 MIP (Membrane Interface Probe)
• Probe Heated ~120 ºC

• Internal Carrier Gas for VOC

transportation to surface analysis
– PID (Photo Ionization Detector)

– FID (Flame Ionization Detector)

– XSD (Halogen Specific Detector)

• Real time contaminant screening

information is generated, allowing
field adjustment of the site
investigation

Source: Geoprobe, 2020

 HPT (Hydraulic Profiling Tool)

• HPT produces a detailed log of

relative formation
permeability;

• Logs HPT injection pressure,

flow rate and electrical
conductivity;

Source: Geoprobe, 2019

3D Mapping: High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC)

• Target:
o Chlorinated compounds in
the unsaturated zone

• Technology used:
o MiHPT (Membrane
Interface Probe + Hydraulic
Profiling Tool)
o 180 m logged along 14
MiHPTs
 3D Mapping: High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC)

XSD > 50000 µV

Human receptors • Total of 14 MiHPT logs were performed;

• XSD – lead detector;

• Secondary sources found into the unsaturated

zone.

Water table ~12 m

• At the same time, lithology was mapped using HPT High permeability
pressures readings, finding low and high permeability < 200 kPa
layers;

• Decisions made on the field, in real time with remote

assessment of data

Low permeability
• CSM built in 1 week. > 700 kPa
3D Mapping: High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC)

Secondary sources Vapor preferential

soil pathway

• Higher XSD readings right below high permeability layer;

• Vapor plume expansion occurs through shallow depths.
3D Mapping: High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC)

Vapor plume Vapor plume

displaced from source

Vapor preferential soil

pathway

Secondary sources
Water table

Post HRSC
Pre HRSC
• 90% of anomalies are in just 5% of the total area
• Main source of vapor intrusion was impacted by chlorinated compounds in all of its
dissolved phase in the groundwater phases: adsorbed, dissolved and vapor
CSM with HRSC + CSM with traditional tools
 Conclusions

Vapor

Contaminated
Soil High Resolution
Techniques
Secondary
Groundwater Decision
Sources
Real Time on the Accuracy
field
 Conclusions
✓Secondary sources of chlorinated compound contamination and lithology permeability
mapped using MiHPT;

✓Chlorinated compounds in the unsaturated zone are providing mass to vapor phase;

✓Vapor plume hotspot are not necessarily above the secondary source;

✓ Data gathered in only 5 working days (field);

✓Removing secondary sources (5% of the total area) from the unsaturated zone will
substantially reduce vapor flow and intrusion, reducing cost of a SVE operation 24/7 for 5
years.
 Conclusions

✓What if HRSC was applied in the first place?

 Conclusions
✓“Blind” decisions would have been avoided;

✓CSM would be built faster;

✓Change of use of the site (from industrial to residential) would have been
accelerated;

✓Money in, not only out -> no use of the site for 20 years.
 THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION,

Guilherme Dainese Varela

+55 (11) 99311 1113
guilherme.varela@finkler.eng.br

www.finklerambiental.com.br

VINHEDO – SP CANOAS – RS
W W W. F I N K L E R A M B I E N TA L . C O M . B R
+55 (19) 3886.3160 +55 (51) 3051.5001