CICEET Progress Report for the period 3/15/05 Through 9/15/05

Project Title: Use of Permeable Reactive Barriers to Reduce the Release of Nitrate from Existing Septic Systems to Groundwater and Estuaries
Principal Investigator(s): Nancy E. Kinner, Thomas P. Ballestero, Robert Roseen
Project Start Date: 1 September 2002

Accomplishments
Scheduled Tasks
During the period covered by this progress report (April 2005 ­ September 2005), we had two goals to: (1) finish the field testing at the JEL PRB site, and (2) analyze the data and begin writing the final report. The grant funding ended on August 31, 2005.

Progress on Tasks
1. Completion of Laboratory Experiments
Both the column and microcosm studies that were conducted in the laboratory were completed prior to this quarter.

2. Pilot-Scale Field Monitoring
The final field monitoring at the JEL was completed during this reporting period. The PRB well at the JEL site was repacked loosely with pine shavings to allow TOC to diffuse into the surrounding groundwater. The repacking occurred in May and within a few days denitrifiction was observed in the PRB and down gradient in the monitoring wells MW-16 and MW-17. Final data was collected in mid August 2005. There were a large number of TOC samples to analyze from this period and it exceeded our lab’s capacity for analysis because of continuing problems with our TOC machine. Therefore, the samples were sent to Eastern Analytical for TOC analysis.

Difficulties Encountered
The only difficulty this reporting period was the continuing problem with the TOC analyzer. As a result, we sent a large number of samples to Eastern Analytical (Concord, NH) for TOC analysis. Eastern is a certified laboratory and has good quality control. There were sufficient funds remaining in the budget to cover these analyses because we had done the nitrate and ammonia analyses in-house instead of sending them to a laboratory.

The final TOC data are still being received from Eastern, but as of this reporting time, 90% have been received.

Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives
Erin Stanisewski, the graduate student supported by the grant, started working in the private sector during Summer 2004. As a result, we hired an undergraduate for several hours per week to do the sampling and analysis. Unfortunately, the student had a full senior-level ENE course load and was only able to devote a fraction of his time to the project. During Summer 2005, we were very fortunate to hire Sarah Lilley, a senior-level environmental studies undergraduate at Gettysburg College, to work full-time on the project. Sarah did a terrific job and was able to complete all of the field and laboratory work before she left in mid-August. Surprisingly, Erin Stanisewski was able to negotiate a leave-of-absence from her employer to return to UNH for two months to finish writing her thesis. She arrived on campus on October 17th. This is a huge boost to the project because Erin will complete the data analysis and her thesis can serve as the basis for the CICEET final report and a peer-reviewed paper. We therefore anticipate submitting the final report to CICEET by December 15 when Erin leaves us to return to her job.

Preliminary Data
QC
We adhere to the published QA/QC requirements for Standard Methods TOC 5310B, including those for calibration standards and checks, laboratory method blanks, fortified laboratory blanks, duplicate field samples, and fortified field samples. Multiple blanks and calibration checks are run with each batch of samples to ensure instrument quality control. The QA/QC requirements for the column study included one column being used as a blank. Column water and field groundwater samples are filtered and run with duplicates and spikes for both DOC and nitrate as N. The pilot-scale field study included in the QA/QC water quality monitoring (pH, temperature, conductivity). In addition to water quality testing, the pilot-scale field study is tested for DOC, nitrate (as N), and ammonia (as N). Percent recoveries for the calibration standards to date have been within 90-110%. The relative percent difference between the duplicate samples has been within ± 10%. This meets our QA/QC requirements.

PRB Field Results
As noted earlier in this report, the addition of fresh pine shavings to the JEL PRB well resulted in immediate denitrification in the PRB and down gradient in MW-16 and MW-17. These results will be presented in detail in the final report that is being written at this time.

Tasks and Activities for Next Reporting Period

Tasks for Next Reporting Period
During the period from October 2005 to March 2005, we will complete the final report and submit it.

Work Plan to Accomplish Tasks
Erin Stanisewski will be working with Nancy Kinner to complete the data analysis from the JEL PRB field site and to write the final report.

Concerns or Difficulties
At the present time, we do not anticipate any difficulties completing these tasks.

Expenditures
The grant officially ended on August 31, 2005. The budget was expended and no further costs are anticipated.