ABSTRACT
One of the most important parts of a site investigation and remediation is the knowledge and understanding of the organic contaminants in the aquifer. Most organic contaminants interact with the soil and do not move at the same rate as water does through the soil matrix. Based on groundwater modelling and retardation factors, the fate and transport of the organic compounds at a contamination site are modeled. Most solute transport models in use are a combination of groundwater flow models, which describe a velocity field, recharge and discharge, and changes in aquifer storage for site specific conditions, and transport models which may address dispersion, density-dependent flow, or some reversible and irreversible chemical phenomena. Most solute transport models do not address biochemical reactions. Reversible equilibrium and controlled sorption is typically simulated by use of a retardation factor or coefficient.
