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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1998; v. 128; p. 123-145;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.128.01.11
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Section 4: Groundwater Pollution by Hydrocarbons

Migration of dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE and chlorinated solvents in a karstified limestone aquifer, Stamford, UK

David Banks

Associated Consultant with Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, Bayheath House, Rose Hill West, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 1JF, UK
Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse, Postboks 3006 - Lade, N7002 Trondheim, Norway

Two incidents of hydrocarbon contamination to the Lincolnshire Limestone in east Stamford, UK, have been investigated. No evidence of LNAPL contamination of groundwater was observed, suggesting that the spills may largely have been retained in the unsaturated zone. Some groundwater contamination by dissolved hydrocarbons occurred, apparently especially at times of high recharge. Rapid flow paths were proven to nearby springs in the River Welland (with groundwater flow velocities of up to 240 m day–1), and dissolved hydrocarbon and MTBE contamination appears to have been flushed rapidly from these systems. MTBE contamination at Tallington Pumping Station (5 km east of the site) is not clearly linked to these incidents. Of potentially more concern was the discovery of dissolved chlorinated solvent contamination in the groundwater at the spill sites, possibly related to a landfilled quarry and/or a nearby engineering works. No direct evidence of DNAPL was observed. A conceptual model of solvent distribution suggests independent sources of TCE, PCE and TCA.