ABSTRACT
Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination of ground water is a significant and often complex problem. Bioremediation, while effective in treating the trapped hydrocarbon, is often quite expensive when relying on chemical oxygen carriers such as hydrogen peroxide. There has been a need, therefore, to develop a technology which could more cost effectively address petroleum hydrocarbon contamination of ground water. A technology that offers the most promise is air sparging. Air sparging is a potentially effective means of treating petroleum hydrocarbons. Air sparging is a relatively new treatment technology for addressing contamination below the water table. Air sparging, simply viewed, is the injection of air under pressure below the water table. Air sparging systems can only be properly designed through collection of appropriate site data and field pilot testing. Field pilot testing necessitates the installation of test sparge/vent points.
