Underground storage tanks groundwater contamination from

The contamination of groundwater by leakage of hydrocarbons or other pollutants from underground storage tanks, distribution systems and various industrial operations is a major environmental problem. Conventional treatment techniques suffer from serious shortcomings which limit their applicability and efficiency. These include high cost and maintenance requirements, the need to transfer the contamination from one medium to another, and the extended duration of the operation, since decades may be necessary to prevent continued growth of contaminant plumes (Yerushalmi et al., 1999). An alternative to these treatments lies in in situ remediation. 

The contamination of groundwater with MTBE is a very recent environmental problem, which is related to MTBE use as a gasoline additive. Leakage from underground storage tanks has produced very negative... 

Daugherty S. (1991) Regulatory approaches to hydrocarbon contamination from underground storage tanks. In Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils and Groundwater Analysis, Fate, Environmental and Public Health Effects, Remediation (eds. P. T. Kostecki and E. J. Calabrese). Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI, pp. 24-63. 

Approximately 50% of US drinking water supplies are drawn from groundwater, and of these about 25% have been detected with VOCs above the Maximum Contaminant Level [73], Sources of contamination include agriculture and industry, hazardous waste disposal, underground storage tanks, and accidental spills. The organic contaminants of particular concern are chlorinated aliphatic and aro-... 

If TPH is introduced at any depth within the soil matrix, as in the case of leaks from underground storage tanks, natural weather and biodegradation processes are rendered less effective and the chances are increased that some of the TPH fractions may contaminate groundwater. Since many... 

Product le ng from an underground storage tank will migrate downward until it encounters the water table, where it will then flow with the groundwater, leaving a long trail of contaminated soil. Above the water table, some product will be absorbed on the soil particles and in the pore space between the soil particles. If the soil is later saturated by water, product stored in the pore spaces may be released, causing a reappearance of the free product and movement of the material into previously unaffected soil. 

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