U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5161

Prepared in cooperation with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast

Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination 

at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina
Cover photograph. Still picture from a video taken by a borehole camera in the now abandoned sanitary sewer system from the former 

dry-cleaning facility at Site 45, Parris Island, showing cracks in the sewer with roots extending through the cracks. Video by Deigler 

Waste Services, Inc. (Ridgeland, South Carolina).
Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater 

Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina

By Don A. Vroblesky, Matthew D. Petkewich, James E. Landmeyer, and 

Mark A. Lowery

Prepared in cooperation with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast

Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5161

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2009

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reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Vroblesky, D.A., Petkewich, M.D., Landmeyer, J.E., and Lowery, M.A., 2009, Source, transport, and fate of 

groundwater contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina: 

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5161, 80 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................4

Well Installation ....................................................................................................................................4

Water-Level Measurements ...............................................................................................................8

Sewer Mapping.....................................................................................................................................8

Sediment Sampling.............................................................................................................................10

Surface-Water and Storm-Drain Sampling....................................................................................11

Well Sampling......................................................................................................................................11

Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis .............................................................................................12

Investigation-Derived Waste ............................................................................................................12

Site Description............................................................................................................................................12

Hydrogeology.......................................................................................................................................12

Groundwater Chemistry.....................................................................................................................16

Distribution of Chlorinated-Solvent Groundwater Contamination.......................................................18

Areal Distribution of Groundwater Contamination........................................................................18

Vertical Distribution of Groundwater Contamination....................................................................23

Source of Chlorinated-Solvent Groundwater Contamination in the Southern Plume......................26

Transport and Fate of Chlorinated Solvents ............................................................................................28

Storm-Sewer Influences on Transport............................................................................................28

Biodegradation....................................................................................................................................32

Contaminant Concentration Changes in the Direction of Transport .................................34

Other Influences..................................................................................................................................38

Summary and Conclusions.........................................................................................................................38

References....................................................................................................................................................40

Appendixes 1–14..........................................................................................................................................45
iv

Figures

1–9. Maps showing—

 1. Location of Site 45 and Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina...............................................................................................2

 2. Location of above-ground storage tanks and approximate 

boundary of groundwater contamination, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina...........................................3

 3. Locations of monitoring wells used in the U.S. Geological 

Survey investigation, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina...............................................................................................5

 4. Locations of temporary wells installed and sampled as part of the 

U.S. Geological Survey investigation, Site 45, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina ....................................................................6

 5. Locations of Membrane Interface Probe borings installed during 

the U.S. Geological Survey investigation, Site 45, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina ....................................................................7

 6. Storm sewers and sanitary sewers at Site 45, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina ....................................................................9

 7. Locations of storm sewers and surface-water and sediment 

samples collected at the storm-sewer discharge from Site 45 

to Ballast Creek, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 16–17, 2008 .....................................................................................10

 8. Groundwater levels in the SU wells in the surficial aquifer, Marine 

Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, June 27, 2008.............................14

 9. Groundwater levels in the SL wells in the surficial aquifer, Marine 

Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, June 27, 2008.............................15

10–11. Graphs showing—

 10. Water levels in selected monitoring wells and storm-sewer 

manhole STS06, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, June 11–13, 2007.............................................................16

 11. Vertical profile of specific conductance at well PFM-02, Marine 

Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, June 14, 2007.............................17

12–16. Maps showing—

 12. Generalized distribution of tetrachloroethene in groundwater at Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008 ....................19

 13. Generalized distribution of trichloroethene in groundwater at Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008 ....................20

14. Generalized distribution of cis-1,2-dichloroethene in groundwater at Site 45,

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008 ....................21

 15. Generalized distribution of vinyl chloride in groundwater at Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008 ....................22

 16. Locations of sampling points shown in figures 17 and 18, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.........................................24

17. Lithologic log, electron-capture-detector logs from Membrane Interface 

Probe investigation, trichloroethene concentrations in water from multiple 

depths in temporary wells, and total chlorinated volatile organic compounds 

in sediment from cores near the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning 

facility, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008..........25
v

18. Lithologic log, electron-capture-detector log from Membrane Interface 

Probe investigation, field analysis of volatile organic compounds in sediment 

cores, trichloroethene concentrations in water from multiple depths in 

temporary wells, and total chlorinated volatile organic compounds in sediment 

from cores near the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning facility, 

Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 2008 ....................................................27

19. Map showing movement of dye tracer and arrival times in the storm sewer 

from Site 45 to the Ballast Creek tributary, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, August 30, 2007 ......................................................................31

20. Graphs showing total chlorinated solvents, individual chlorinated solvents, 

parent/daughter ratios, and compound-specific stable carbon isotopes 

in wells along the axis of contamination in the southern plume, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 

September 2008, unless otherwise noted...............................................................................35

21. Map showing relative molar percentage of tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, 

cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride in groundwater from monitoring 

wells and selected temporary wells representing multiple sampling events, 

Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008..............36

Tables

1. Concentrations of total organic carbon in sediment cores, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008......................................18

2. Concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds in shallow 

and deeper temporary-well groundwater samples near the new 

dry cleaning facility, March 5, 2008 .........................................................................................26

3. Concentrations of selected constituents in storm sewers, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2007–2008............................29

4. Concentrations of compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis 

on water from wells and a storm sewer, Site 45, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2007–2008 .....................................................32

5. Molecular analysis of phylogenic groups and functional genes in 

groundwater samples from the southern plume at Site 45, Marine 

Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2006..........................................33

6. Concentrations of total organic carbon in soil borings, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008......................................38
vi

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Volume

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L) 

gallon (gal) 0.003785 cubic meter (m3

) 

gallon (gal) 3.785 cubic decimeter (dm3

) 

cubic inch (in3

) 0.01639 liter (L)

cubic foot (ft3

) 28.32 cubic decimeter (dm3) 

cubic foot (ft3

) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3) 

Flow rate

foot per day (ft/d) 0.3048 meter per day (m/d)

foot per minute (ft/min) 0.3048 meter per minute (m/min)

foot per year (ft/yr) 0.3048 meter per year (m/yr)

Hydraulic conductivity

foot per day (ft/d) 0.3048 meter per day (m/d)

Hydraulic gradient

foot per mile (ft/mi) 0.1894 meter per kilometer (m/km)
vii

SI to Inch/Pound

Multiply By To obtain

Length

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) 

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

Volume

liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)

cubic meter (m3

) 264.2 gallon (gal) 

cubic decimeter (dm3

) 0.2642 gallon (gal) 

liter (L) 61.02 cubic inch (in3

) 

cubic decimeter (dm3

) 0.03531 cubic foot (ft3) 

cubic meter (m3

) 35.31 cubic foot (ft3)

Flow rate

meter per minute (m/min) 3.281 foot per minute (ft/min) 

meter per day (m/d) 3.281 foot per day (ft/d)

meter per year (m/yr) 3.281 foot per year ft/yr) 

Mass

gram (g) 0.03527 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb)

megagram (Mg) 1.102 ton, short (2,000 lb)

megagram (Mg) 0.9842 ton, long (2,240 lb)

metric ton per day 1.102 ton per day (ton/d) 

megagram per day (Mg/d) 1.102 ton per day (ton/d) 

megagram per day per square

kilometer [(Mg/d)/km2

]

2.8547 ton per day per square mile 

[(ton/d)/mi2]

megagram per year (Mg/yr) 1.102 ton per year (ton/yr)

metric ton per year 1.102 ton per year (ton/yr) 

Hydraulic conductivity

meter per day (m/d) 3.281 foot per day (ft/d) 

Hydraulic gradient

meter per kilometer (m/km) 5.27983 foot per mile (ft/mi) 

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F–32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius 

(μS/cm at 25 °C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).
viii

Abbreviations

‰ per mil: a unit expressing the ratio of stable isotope 

abundance of an element in a sample to those of 

a standard material. Per mil units are equivalent to 

parts per thousand.

12C carbon 12 isotope

13C carbon 13 isotope

16S rRNA 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid

BLS below land surface

BVC functional gene associated with vinyl 

chloride reductase 

bvcA reductase gene in Dehalococcoides strain BAV1

cDCE cis-1,2-dichloroethene

cm/d centimeters per day

CSIA compound-specific isotope analysis

DNA deoxyribose nucleic acid

DNAPL dense nonaqueous-phase liquid

DO dissolved oxygen

DSR functional gene associated with 

sulfate-reducing bacteria

ECD electron-capture detector

f

oc fraction organic carbon

ft/d feet per day

ft/yr feet per year

H2 molecular hydrogen

I.D. inside diameter

IDW investigation-derived waste

K hydraulic conductivity

Kd distribution coefficient between water and sediment

Koc organic carbon sorption coefficient

log Koc soil absorption coefficient for organic carbon

MBT molecular biological tool

MCL maximum contaminant level

MCRD Marine Corps Recruit Depot

mg/kg milligrams per kilogram

mg/mL milligrams per milliliter

MIP Membrane Interface Probe

mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid

mS/M millisiemens per meter

nM nanomoles per liter

PCE tetrachloroethene

ppm parts per million

PVC polyvinyl chloride

qDHB DNA or 16SrRNA associated with Dehalobacter sp.

qDHC DNA or 16SrRNA associated with Dehalococcoides sp.

qDSM DNA or 16SrRNA associated with Desulfuromonas sp.

qEBAC DNA or 16SrRNA associated with Eubacteria

qMGN DNA or 16SrRNA associated with 

methanogenic bacteria

RNA ribonucleic nucleic acid

TCE trichloroethene

TceA trichloroethene reductase gene

t DCE trans-1,2-dichloroethene

TEAP terminal electron accepting process

TOC total organic carbon

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

VC vinyl chloride

VcrA vinyl chloride reductase gene 

VOA volatile organic analysis

VOC volatile organic compound

δ13C ratio of 13C/12C relative to a reference standard of the 

Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite

μS/cm microsiemens per centimeter

μV microvolts
Abstract

Groundwater contamination by tetrachloroethene and its 

dechlorination products is present in two partially intermingled plumes in the surficial aquifer near a former dry-cleaning 

facility at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina. The northern plume originates from the vicinity of former above-ground storage tanks. Free-phase tetrachloroethene from activities in this area entered the groundwater and the storm sewer. The southern plume originates 

at a nearby new dry-cleaning facility, but probably was the 

result of contamination released to the aquifer from a leaking sanitary sewer line from the former dry-cleaning facility. 

Discharge of dissolved groundwater contamination is primarily to leaking storm sewers below the water table. Extensive 

biodegradation of the contamination takes place in the surficial 

aquifer; however, the biodegradation is insufficient to reduce 

trichloroethene to less than milligram-per-liter concentrations 

prior to discharging into the storm sewers. The groundwater 

volatile organic compounds entering the storm sewers are 

substantially diluted by tidal flushing upon entry and are subject to volatilization as they are transported through the storm 

sewer to a discharge point in a tributary to Ballast Creek. TCE 

concentrations of about 2–6 micrograms per liter were present in storm-sewer water near the discharge point (sampled 

at manhole STS26). On three out of four sampling events at 

manhole STS14, the storm-sewer water contained no vinyl 

chloride. During a time of relatively high groundwater levels, 

however, 20 micrograms per liter of vinyl chloride was present in STS14 storm-sewer water. Because groundwater leaks 

into that storm sewer and because the storm sewer upgradient from manhole STS14 is adjacent to part of the aquifer 

where 2,290 micrograms per liter of vinyl chloride have 

been detected, there is a potential for substantially increased 

concentrations of vinyl chloride to discharge at the stormsewer outfall under conditions of high groundwater levels and 

low tidal flushing. In addition, the observation that free-phase 

tetrachloroethene may have entered the storm-sewer system 

during the 1994 discharge means that dense nonaqueous phase 

liquid tetrachloroethene could have leaked from various parts 

of the storm sewer or discharged to surface water at the stormsewer outfall.

Introduction

Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, is 

in the southeastern part of South Carolina (fig. 1). Site 45 is 

a former dry-cleaning facility and the surrounding area near 

the intersections of Panama Street, Samoa Street, and Kyushu 

Street (fig. 2). The area includes a new dry-cleaning facility. 

Groundwater contamination is present at the site, consisting primarily of tetrachloroethene (PCE) and its dechlorination products trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene 

(cDCE), and vinyl chloride (VC). 

The former dry-cleaning facility began operations in the 

1950s. In 1988, above-ground storage tanks were installed in 

an overflow catch basin (fig. 2). On March 11, 1994, one of 

the above-ground tanks was overfilled with PCE, and PCE 

spilled into the catch basin. The PCE was released from the 

catch basin to the surrounding soil when the containment 

basin was drained following heavy rains (S&ME, Inc., 1994). 

PCE may have entered the storm drains during this event. 

Evidence for entry of PCE to the storm drain was that when 

the site was investigated in the days after the spill, there was 

a wedge-shaped area of dead vegetation widening away from 

the spill area and intersecting Panama Street (James Clark, 

Environmental Officer, Parris Island, oral commun., 2008). A 

storm drain was present on Panama Street within a few tens 

of feet from the area where the wedge intersected the street. 

Multiple solvent releases were reported in 1995 (James Clark, 

Environmental Officer, Parris Island, oral commun., 2008), 

and the field investigation associated with the 1994 release 

concluded that additional solvent releases of lesser magnitude occurred over time predating the 1994 spill (S&ME, 

Inc., 1994). Underground storage tanks, possibly containing 

petroleum-based solvents, also were present at the site and 

were removed prior to construction of the above-ground storage tanks (S&ME, Inc., 1994). The former dry-cleaning facility was demolished, and related structures were removed from 

the site in early 2001 (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 2004). Groundwater contamination in the vicinity of and downgradient from 

the area of former above-ground storage tanks is designated as 

the northern plume in this report (fig. 2).

In late 1997, the dry-cleaning operations were moved to 

a new facility, approximately 130 feet (ft) west of the former 

Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination 

at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina

By Don A. Vroblesky, Matthew D. Petkewich, James E. Landmeyer, and Mark A. Lowery
2 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

0 0.5 1 0.25 Miles

0 10.5 Kilometers

80°40'0"W

80°40'0"W

80°41'0"W

80°41'0"W

80°42'0"W

80°42'0"W

80°43'0"W

80°43'0"W

80°44'0"W

80°44'0"W

80°45'0"W

80°45'0"W

32°22'0"N

32°21'0"N

32°20'0"N

32°19'0"N

32°18'0"N

Ballast Creek

Broad River

Beaufort

River

Archers Creek

Site 45

Marine Corps

Recruit Depot

Parris Island

Marine Corps Recruit

Depot, Parris Island

Georgia

North Carolina

South Carolina

Columbia

Beaufort

Charleston

Atlantic

Ocean

Figure 1. Location of Site 45 and Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.
Introduction 3

Approximate boundary of groundwater contamination

Transport

Transport

Southern Plume

Northern Plume Parking Lot

Parking Lot

Above-ground storage tanks

and location of 1994 overflow

Site 45

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 2. Location of above-ground storage tanks and approximate boundary of groundwater contamination, Site 45, Marine 

Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.

dry-cleaning building (fig. 2). With the move to a new facility, 

the dry-cleaning operation switched from using PCE as the 

cleaning solvent to using a non-hazardous hydrocarbon-based 

cleaner (ExxonMobil DF-2000®) that contains no chlorinated 

solvents, and the equipment was replaced with refrigeration 

for recirculation and recovery of the solvent (Center for Waste 

Minimization, 2000). Investigations in 2005 and 2006 showed 

the presence of a second groundwater contamination plume of 

chlorinated solvents, hereafter known as the southern plume, 

south and southwest of the former dry-cleaning facility (fig. 2), 

appearing to originate from the new dry-cleaning facility (Tetra 

Tech NUS, Inc., 2005; Mark Sladic, Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., written commun., 2006). Groundwater flow directions were to the 

southeast, making it improbable that the contamination at the 

new dry-cleaning facility was caused by groundwater transport 

from the documented spill at the former dry-cleaning facility. 

Prior to initiation of the present investigation, the 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted groundwater 
4 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

investigations at Site 45 beginning in 2005 to examine issues 

related to the influence of in-well convection on groundwater sample quality (Vroblesky and others, 2007). The USGS 

initiated the present investigation in 2007 for several reasons. 

(1) Measurements made by the USGS indicated that several 

storm-sewer lines intersecting the site were below the water 

table, and information was needed on whether those sewer 

lines influenced contaminant movement. (2) Further delineation of the southern plume was needed. (3) Additional 

information was needed on the fate and transport of the 

southern plume.

The purposes of this report are (1) to examine the role 

that sewer lines play in contaminant source, distribution, 

attenuation, and transport in both the northern and southern 

plumes, (2) to present data further delineating the main body 

of contamination in the southern plume and on the potential for 

contaminant movement to the deeper aquifer system, and (3) to 

examine natural attenuation aspects of groundwater contamination in the southern plume. The investigation involved examination of historical records and engineering drawings of buildings, video imaging of storm sewers, water-level monitoring 

by synoptic measurements in wells and by use of continuous 

data loggers, installation and sampling of temporary wells, and 

water and sediment sampling. The water sampling included 

wells, storm drains, and surface water. Water samples were collected from 23 permanent wells in the target aquifer, several of 

which were sampled on multiple occasions. Five of these wells 

were installed during this investigation. The wells were located 

predominantly in the southern plume. Samples were analyzed 

for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and water chemistry. 

Selected groundwater samples were analyzed for molecular 

biological tools (MBTs) and for compound-specific stable carbon isotopes. Groundwater samples also were collected from 

four wells screened deeper than the known contamination, 

three of which were installed during this investigation. Water 

samples were collected from 96 temporary wells installed 

during this investigation. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) 

logs were collected at seven borings in the southern plume. 

Additional water samples for VOC analysis were collected 

from storm sewers and from surface water at the sewer outfall. 

Sediment was collected for VOC analysis at the storm-sewer 

outfall. Aquifer core samples were analyzed for total organic 

carbon. This report contains several appendixes, which include 

well-construction and lithologic information, water and sediment chemistry, and synoptic water-level data.

Methods

This investigation involved monitoring existing permanent wells and installation and monitoring of additional permanent and temporary wells (figs. 3 and 4). Monitoring also 

involved determination of groundwater levels by collecting 

synoptic and continuous water-level data from wells and storm 

sewers. Subsurface sewer lines were mapped, sampled, and 

subjected to a dye test to measure transport times. Sediment 

samples and surface-water samples were collected and analyzed. Water-level data and well samples were not collected 

from wells with the prefix PFM (originally used for a passive flux-meter investigation) because the 15-ft well screens 

were substantially longer than in the other monitoring wells 

(4–5 ft) in the surficial aquifer (fig. 3). One of the PFM wells 

was used, however, to obtain a vertical distribution of specific 

conductance in the surficial aquifer.

Well Installation

Temporary borings were installed using direct-push technology. MIP logs run in the temporary borings at seven locations in the southern plume provided information on the depth 

of the contamination (fig. 5). An MIP is a semi-quantitative 

field-screening device that typically is advanced into the soil 

and sediment by push technology and detects volatile organic 

compounds by heating and capturing vapor from the soil and 

transporting it to the surface for onsite analysis (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005).

Other temporary borings functioned as wells for water 

sampling or as sources for analysis of sediment cores. Temporary wells were constructed by advancing a stainless-steel well 

screen with a retractable cover to the target depth. Retracting 

the cover at the target depth exposed 4 ft of screen. The depth 

of investigation at each site was based primarily on vertical 

profiling using MIPs during this investigation and a previous investigation (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 2005). The depth of 

maximum electron-capture-detector (ECD) response on the 

MIP logs in areas outside the 1994 PCE spill area varied from 

about 9.5 to 14 ft. Therefore, the targeted depth for exposing 

the 4-ft screened interval of investigation was within the range 

of 5 to 15 ft depth, with the site-specific depth depending on 

nearby MIP data. 

At some temporary-well locations, water samples were 

collected from multiple depths. On the east side of the facility at wells PAI-45-USGS-TW9 and PAI-45-USGS-TW20, 

multiple depths were sampled by sampling in two different 

boreholes, each with its own well name (PAI-45-USGS-TW18 

and PAI-45-USGS-TW21, respectively). Near the new drycleaning facility, multiple depths were obtained by advancing 

the retractable well point to a shallow depth, sampling the 

well, removing and cleaning the equipment, and using the 

same borehole to advance the retractable well point to a deeper 

depth for sampling. The temporary wells and MIP borings 

installed as part of this investigation were filled in by grouting 

with Portland® cement within 24 hours of sampling.

A South Carolina certified well driller installed all permanent wells. The permanent wells in the surficial aquifer were 

installed using hollow-stem augers. The wells were 2-inch 

inside diameter (ID) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flush-threaded 

casing with 5-ft screen lengths having 0.010-inch openings. 

The filter pack consisted of clean silica #1 sand installed adjacent to the screen from approximately 3–6 inches below the 

bottom of the well to approximately 2 ft above the well screen. 

The seal overlying the sand pack consisted of a minimum 
Methods 5

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

A

A’

A PFM-01

A PFM-02

A

PFM-03

A

PFM-04

A 

A A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A PAI-45-MW13-SL 

PAI-45-MW10-SL

PAI-45-MW25-SL

PAI-45-MW06-SL 

PAI-45-MW01-SL 

PAI-45-MW08-SL 

PAI-45-MW07-SL 

PAI-45-MW02-SL 

PAI-45- 

MW21-SL 

PAI-45-MW14-SL 

PAI-45-MW16-SL 

PAI-45-MW05-SL 

PAI-45-MW03-SL 

PAI-45-MW22-SL 

PAI-45-MW24-SL 

PAI-45-MW23-SL 

PAI-45-MW19-SL 

PAI-45-MW04-SL 

PAI-45-MW20-SL

PAI-45-MW17-SL 

PAI-45-MW18-SL 

PAI-45-MW26-SL 

PAI-45-MW27-SL 

PAI-45-MW15-SL 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A A 

A 

A 

A 

A A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A PAI-45-MW31-SU A 

PAI-45-MW14-SU 

PAI-45-MW02-SU 

PAI-45-MW01-SU 

PAI-45-MW08-SU 

PAI-45-MW07-SU 

PAI-45-MW21-SU 

PAI-45-MW16-SU 

PAI-45-MW05-SU 

PAI-45-MW22-SU 

PAI-45-MW23-SU 

PAI-45-MW19-SU 

PAI-45-MW04-SU

PAI-45-MW20-SU 

PAI-45-MW18-SU 

PAI-45-MW17-SU 

PAI-45-MW15-SU 

PAI-45-MW10-SU 

PAI-45-MW06-SU 

PAI-45-MW03-SU 

A PAI-45-MW13-SU 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

PAI-45-MW29-D 

PAI-45-MW21-D 

PAI-45-MW06-D 

PAI-45-MW05-SD 

PAI-45-MW04-D

PAI-45-MW09-D 

PAI-45-MW28-D 

A PAI-45-MW11-D 

A 

PAI-45-MW07-D 

A PAI-45-MW01-D 

PAI-45-MW30-D 

PAI-45-MW10-D 

A Monitoring well and identifier 

Location of hydrologic section shown in figure 20

PAI-45-MW21-SL 

PAI-45-MW31-SL

EXPLANATION 

A A’

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 3. Locations of monitoring wells used in the U.S. Geological Survey investigation, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina.
6 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

I

76 I

)

92

41

Temporary well installed and sampled March 2008, and abbreviated well name

Temporary well installed and sampled June 2007, and abbreviated well name

Temporary well installed and sampled August 2007, and abbreviated well name

Abbreviated well names refer to names prefixed by “PAI-45-USGS-TW”

I 

I 

I I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I I 9 

8 

7 

6 

5 

4 3 

2 

1 

42 

39 

44 

41 

49 

70 

69 

46 

47 

40 

43 

45 

38 

51 60 

50 

56 

66 

57 

58 

33 

34 

30 

35 26 

36 

24 

27 28 64 

67 

68 

31 

37 

32 63 

54 

53 

52 

61 

62 

25 

65 

20 

21 

19 

23 

22 

17 

16 

12 

13 

14 

15 

10 

11 

18 

29 

59 

48 

55 I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

72 

73 

74 

76 

75 

71 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) ) 

) 

) 

) ) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

88 

86 85 

80 79 

77 

95 

78 81 

94 

82 

83 

84 

87 

92 

93 

91 

90 89 

EXPLANATION 

)96

)

96 Temporary well installed and sampled April 2008, and abbreviated well name

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 4. Locations of temporary wells installed and sampled as part of the U.S. Geological Survey investigation, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.
Methods 7

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

MIP1 

MIP2 

MIP7 

MIP3 

MIP5 

MIP4 

MIP6 

Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) location and identifier MIP1 

EXPLANATION 

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 5. Locations of Membrane Interface Probe borings installed during the U.S. Geological Survey investigation, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.
8 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

2-ft-thick layer of 100 percent sodium bentonite pellets that 

were allowed to hydrate for 1 hour or longer before grouting. Portland cement (100 percent) grout filled the remaining 

annular space above the bentonite seal to a point at least 2 ft 

below ground surface. The wells were flush mounted with 

at-grade protective steel casings equipped with sealing, locking caps, at-grade covers, and concrete pads at the well heads. 

All monitoring wells were developed by pumping to remove 

formation cuttings and residual fluids from drilling prior to 

initial sampling.

The three wells beneath the surficial aquifer were installed 

using hollow-stem augers and mud rotary. The driller used 

hollow-stem augers to set 6-inch-diameter Schedule-40 PVC 

outer casing from land surface to within the clay confining unit

at the base of the surficial aquifer at a depth of approximately

19 to 20 ft. After grouting the surface casing in place with 

Portland® cement, the casing grout cured for approximately 

24 hours. The driller then used a 5- to 5-5/8-inch-diameter 

roller cone bit with mud rotary to drill through the grouted 

bottom of the surface casing to a total depth of approximately 

34–35 ft. The well constructed within the surface casing 

consisted of 2-inch ID PVC flush-threaded casing with 10-ft 

screen length having 0.010-inch openings. The primary filter 

pack consisted of clean silica #1 sand from approximately 

3–6 inches below the bottom of the well to approximately 2 ft 

above the well screen. The overlying seal consisted of a minimum 2-ft-thick seal of 100 percent sodium bentonite pellets 

installed directly above the primary filter pack and allowed to 

hydrate for 1 hour or longer before grouting. Portland® cement 

(100 percent) grout filled the remaining annular space above 

the bentonite seal to a point at least 2 ft below ground surface. 

The wells were flush mounted with at-grade protective steel 

casings equipped with sealing, locking caps, at-grade covers, and concrete pad at the well heads. The monitoring wells 

were developed by pumping to remove formation cuttings and 

residual fluids from drilling prior to initial sampling.

On July 3, 2008, measurements of wells PAI-45-MW26-

SL and PAI-45-MW27-SL showed that fine-grained sand had 

filled the screened interval, apparently as a result of the driller 

using a sand pack that was too coarse for the aquifer material. The driller returned to the site and modified the wells by 

removing the sand and constructing a 1-inch ID PVC well 

within each of the existing 2-inch diameter casings. The driller 

filled the remaining annular space of about 3/8 inch with sand. 

Subsequent examination of the wells showed that the modification was adequate to prevent further infilling with sand. 

A private surveying company, Andrews and Burgess, Inc., 

determined new vertical datums for the modified wells.

Water-Level Measurements

Water-level measurements in monitoring wells at Site 45 

provided information to determine groundwater flow directions. Continuous water-level data from the storm sewers and 

the aquifer indicated that water levels increase in both during 

high tide. Before the data loggers provided information on 

the tidal influence, a synoptic water-level measurement on 

April 14, 2007, resulted in data that were not reproducible, 

with groundwater depths changing over the course of minutes 

in some wells. Therefore, subsequent synoptic water-level 

measurements were made at low tide, when water levels 

changed little over the course of hours. The measurements 

involved opening the caps on all of the wells and allowing the 

water levels to stabilize for at least 30 minutes, then deploying 

multiple people to measure water levels using electric tapes 

in a time period of less than about 30 minutes. To ensure that 

the water levels were corrected to a uniform datum, Andrews 

and Burgess, Inc., remeasured the altitudes of all of the wells 

in 2008. The water-level measurements provided synoptic data 

for six dates in the surficial aquifer and five dates in the deeper 

aquifer. Solinst Leveloggers provided continuous water-level 

monitoring in several wells and selected storm sewers. 

Sewer Mapping

This investigation used a variety of approaches to map 

and investigate the sanitary and storm sewers at Site 45 

(fig. 6). In the initial stages of this investigation, the direction of transport in an abandoned sanitary sewer that drained 

the former dry-cleaning facility was determined by pouring 

water into the manhole. Scanned images of historical as-built 

engineering drawings of buildings and sewer lines imported 

into a geographic information system map of the site, including surveyed locations of manholes, provided the framework 

for generating the map of sanitary- and storm-sewer locations. 

A commercial in-line sewer camera, used in the sanitary sewer 

from the former dry-cleaning facility and in several of the 

storm sewers, provided information on sewer integrity and 

confirmed connections between manholes. The altitudes of the 

sewer inverts (bottom of the pipe entering a manhole) were 

determined by comparing surveyed altitudes of manholes to 

field tape-down measurements. The nomenclature for manholes and storm-sewer drains in this report includes a prefix of 

“SAS” for sanitary sewer or “STS” for storm sewer, followed 

by a numeric identifier. 

The USGS conducted a dye test on August 30, 2007, to 

verify the location of the storm-sewer discharge and to determine the time-of-transport for water in the storm sewer to reach 

the discharge location from Site 45. The test involved inserting 

1 liter of Red 25 dye (KingsCote Chemicals®) into manhole 

STS06 at 12:51, 12 minutes after high tide (fig. 6). Monitoring 

of the dye transport with the outgoing tide took place in two 

manholes along the storm sewer and at the outfall to a tributary 

to Ballast Creek. A chlorophyll fluorometric sensor in manhole 

STS25 (fig. 7A) detected the arrival of the dye pulse. 
Methods 9

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

W 

W 

W 

W W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

W 

SAS03

SAS02

SAS01

STS01

STS02

STS03

STS04

STS05

STS06

STS07

STS09

STS08

STS22

STS16

STS21

SAS04

STS14 STS13

STS01

STS05

W 

SAS01

W Sanitary sewer, manhole, and location identifier. 

Sewer dashed where historical. Arrows show direction 

of drainage.

Storm sewer, manhole or drain, and location identifier. 

Sewer dashed where historical or uncertain location. 

Arrows show direction of drainage at low tide. 

Section of storm sewer that is known or suspected to be

lower than the water table.

EXPLANATION 

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 6. Storm sewers and sanitary sewers at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.
10 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Figure 7. Locations of (A) storm sewers and (B) surface-water and sediment samples collected at the storm-sewer discharge from 

Site 45 to Ballast Creek, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, June 16–17, 2008.

Sediment Sampling

This investigation included collection of sediment samples from the tributary to Ballast Creek in the vicinity of the 

storm-sewer outfall at high tide using a 424-B40 hand corer 

(Wildlife Supply Company) (fig. 7B). Field personnel used the 

corer to collect the sediment in cellulose acetate liners, and 

then they extruded the sediment from the acetate liners into 

sampling syringes. The syringes were part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Method 5035 O2SI 

Sample Smart Field Preservation Kit for sediment sampling 

(O2SI Smart Solutions, P.O. Box 30712, Charleston, SC). This 

kit consists of preserved syringes that allow a 14-day holding 

time for VOCs and analysis of moisture content. Sediment 

sample depths were 0.5 and 1 ft below the bed surface at each 

of four locations (fig. 7). Samples were analyzed for VOC 

content and percentage of moisture. 

A limited number of sediment samples from the aquifer and 

confining material were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC) 

content by method SW846-9060 (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1999). A split-spoon sampler provided the core material from well PAI-45-MW28-D, and a direct-push technology 

method provided the core material from temporary well PAI-45-

USGS-TW96. The sediment sample from well PAI-45-MW26-

SL consisted of fine-grained sand that infiltrated the well screen 

after the well was completed, and, therefore, was skewed toward 

material fine enough to pass the well screen.

Selected core samples were analyzed onsite by the AQR 

Color-Tec® method (Kelso, 2005). This method consisted of 

collecting sediment by push technology and placing the sediment in a volatile organic analysis (VOA) vial with deionized 

water to make a slurry. The slurry was aerated by bubbling to 

collect the dissolved gas, which was passed through a colorimetric indicator tube. The colorimetric response is a relative 

response of total chlorinated VOC concentration.

STS26 

Ballast Creek 

outfall (STS27) 

Eastern 

storm sewer,

apparently 

occluded

Numerous 

collapse features 

Ballast 

Creek 

Area shown in 

inset at right 

Site

45

Storm Drain 

0 500 1,000 250 Feet 

STS25

Western 

storm sewer

0 2 4 8 Feet

Storm Sewer Pipe 

Surface Water

Marsh

Marsh

Storm Sewer Outfall 

(site STS27) 

PAI-SW2 PAI-SW4 

PAI-SW3 

PAI-SW1 

Watersample 

location: 

June 16, 

2008 

Sediment 

samples 

colocated with 

water sample: 

June 17, 2008 

Sedimentsample depths 

(feet below 

sediment-water 

interface): 

June 17, 2008

PAI-SW1 PAI-SWSED1 0.5 and 1.0 

PAI-SW2 PAI-SWSED2 0.5 and 1.0 

PAI-SW3 PAI-SWSED3 0.5 and 1.0 

PAI-SW4 PAI-SWSED4 0.5 and 1.0 

A. Storm sewers connecting Site 45 

to Ballast Creek. 

B. Sampling points near the

storm-sewer outfall at the tributary to 

Ballast Creek.

Tributary 

to 

Ballast 

Creek

EXPLANATION

Approximate extent of surface 

water at low tide.

Approximate extent of surface 

water at mid-range tide.

Approximate extent of surface 

water at high tide.

Surface-water and sediment 

sampling point and name.

PAI-SW1
Methods 11

Surface-Water and Storm-Drain Sampling

Water samples from surface water and storm drains 

were collected by means of a peristaltic pump attached to 

clean polyethylene tubing. The tubing was inserted through 

the center of a piece of rigid PVC pipe and extended to the 

sampling location. The tubing was then extended to beneath 

the water surface, and a water sample was collected by means 

of the peristaltic pump. Water samples were collected from the 

storm sewers at or soon after low tide while storm-sewer water 

was still moving toward Ballast Creek. An exception was on 

June 25, 2007, when a sample was collected during high tide 

from storm drain STS21 to measure pH, specific conductance, 

and temperature of incoming water (fig. 6). 

Well Sampling

Water samples from the temporary wells were collected 

immediately after well installation by extending tubing to 

the screened interval and removing water with a peristaltic 

pump until the apparent turbidity diminished. Stabilization to 

field properties was not done because the wells were sampled 

immediately after opening the retractable well-screen cover, 

and, therefore, no stagnant casing water should have been in 

the borehole. The water samples were analyzed for VOCs. 

Permanent wells at Site 45 were sampled by a variety 

of methods. The sampling approaches included low-flow 

methodology, diffusion-sampler methodology, and multiple 

casing-volume purges prior to sampling. 

Prior to September 2007, all of the pumped water 

samples from wells were obtained by using low-flow methodology (Barcelona and others, 1994; Shanklin and others, 

1995). Low-flow sampling, however, proved difficult and 

raised questions about sample quality because of tidal effects 

and the presence of vertically stratified specific conductance. 

The proximity of the well screens to specific-conductivity 

stratification sometimes resulted in continuous changes in specific conductance during low-flow stabilization that were more 

related to induced movement of low-conductivity or highconductivity water toward the well rather than to well purging. For example, in July 2006, well PAI-45-MW20-SL was 

pumped by low-flow methodology for 2 hours and 17 minutes 

in an attempt to stabilize field properties so that low-flow 

samples could be collected. At that point, specific conductance was still slowly decreasing; however, the samples were 

collected because of concern that continued pumping would 

result in samples that no longer represented groundwater in the 

immediate vicinity of the well screen. In addition, recent work 

has shown that in-well convection cells can develop during the 

winter, resulting in a mixing of water during low-flow sampling that can substantially increase equilibration times, can 

cause false stabilization of indicator properties, can give false 

indications of the redox state, and can provide microbiological data that are not representative of the aquifer conditions 

(Vroblesky and others, 2007). 

To reconcile these low-flow sampling issues, all of the 

wells except the deep well (PAI-45-MW-04D) were sampled 

in September 2007 by first evacuating three casing volumes 

of water from the top of the well casing and then lowering the 

sampling tubing to the screened interval and collecting the 

water samples. This was done to simplify the sampling process 

and to produce samples thought to be more representative of 

the immediate vicinity of the screened interval. The wells were 

purged by peristaltic pump from the top of the water column, 

and the intake tubing followed the water column down if 

drawdowns occurred. After three casing volumes were purged, 

the peristaltic tubing was lowered to the top of the screened 

interval, and approximately 0.5 to 1 gallon was purged, followed by field parameter measurement and sample collection. 

Stabilization to field properties was not done because the 

change in properties with continued pumping would reflect 

movement of conductivity interfaces in the aquifer rather than 

being related to the reliability of the well purge. In general, 

water levels were not allowed to drop into the screened interval during the three-casing-volume purge. 

Low-flow sampling of wells continued to be used in 

wells where the static water level was within the screened 

interval of the well. In those cases, it was advisable to limit 

the amount of drawdown during pumping so as to avoid 

contaminant volatilization as water cascaded down the well 

screen. During low-flow sampling, the wells were purged at 

120–250 milliliters per minute (mL/min), until the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and specific conductuctivity stabilized and no additional water-level drawdowns were 

observed. Stabilization of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, 

and specific conductance was observed by passing the water 

through a flow-through cell containing field-calibrated sensors. 

The field properties were considered to be stabilized when the 

observed changes over three 3-minute intervals were within 

±3 percent for temperature and specific conductance, within 

±0.1 unit for pH, and within ±10 percent for dissolved oxygen. 

VOCs and dissolved gases were collected with no headspace 

in 40-mL vials preserved by hydrochloric acid, and were 

analyzed by USEPA method 8260B at General Engineering 

Lab in Charleston, SC. Samples for dissolved metals were 

preserved with nitric acid, samples for dissolved total organic 

carbon were preserved with sulfuric acid, and anions were 

preserved by chilling. Molecular hydrogen samples were collected by a bubble-strip method and analyzed by Microseeps, 

Inc. Samples for molecular analysis were obtained by filtering 

water and sending the filters to Microbial Insights for analysis.

A vertical profile of specific conductance was measured 

in well PFM02, which is fully screened across the saturated 

zone from about 4 to about 20 ft below land surface. The 

profile was accomplished by using a YSI XLM conductivity 

sonde on June 14, 2007. The sonde was lowered into the well 

to a depth of about 2.7 ft. The readings of temperature, specific 

conductance, dissolved oxygen, and pH were allowed to 

stabilize, which generally took about 7 or 8 minutes. Readings 

were recorded and the sonde was lowered to the next measurement depth. Measurements were made at depth intervals of 

3.28 ft, moving from the shallowest to the deepest depth. 
12 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis

Selected water samples were collected for compoundspecific isotope analysis (CSIA) using carbon in the chlorinated solvents. CSIA can be used to examine biodegradation 

of contaminants. The two stable isotopes of carbon are 12C 

and 13C, of which 12C is the lighter, more abundant, and more 

readily biodegraded. The ratio of 13C/12C relative to a reference standard of the Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (δ13C) usually 

is reported in units of parts per thousand, or per mil (‰). 

Because the lighter isotope is more readily biodegraded, the 

resulting fractionation, or change in the δ13C , can indicate 

biodegradation. As the reaction proceeds, the reactant that 

remains becomes enriched in the heavier isotope, and the δ13C 

value becomes progressively less negative (Hunkeler and 

others, 1999). Carbon isotope fractionation is not significant 

(for example, <0.5 ‰) for non-degradative processes such as 

sorption, but can be on the order of tens of ‰ for degradative 

processes (Dempster and others, 1997; Harrington and others, 

1999; Poulson and Drever, 1999; Slater and others, 1999, 

2000). The use of isotope ratio measurements of carbon in 

both parent and daughter compounds, therefore, can complement the conventional approach to monitoring of chlorinatedsolvent concentrations and site geochemistry (Hunkeler and 

others, 1999; Sherwood Lollar and others, 1999, 2001; Song 

and others, 2002; Vieth and others, 2003). 

Investigation-Derived Waste

Investigation-dervived waste (IDW) generated during this 

investigation included waste sediment cuttings from drilling 

operations and wastewater from well development, purging, 

and sampling. All IDW was containerized. The drilling contractor removed all IDW associated with drilling operations. In 

2007, removal of the IDW from the site was the responsibility 

of the Navy. In 2008, removal of IDW from USGS operations 

was the responsibility of the USGS. The USGS containerized 

all surplus water from well sampling during 2008 in 55-gallon 

drums, and Fenn Vac, Inc., removed the waste from the site on 

September 29, 2008. 

Site Description

MCRD, Parris Island, is a military training site surrounded by the Broad River to the west, the Beaufort River to 

the east, the confluence of those two rivers to the south, and 

Archers Creek to the north (fig. 1). The island is interfingered 

by several tidal creeks. Site 45 is relatively flat lying and is 

approximately 6 to 9 ft above North American Vertical Datum 

of 1988 (NAVD 88). 

Movement of groundwater contamination at Site 45 

is controlled by site hydrology. The site hydrology is influenced by a complex mixture of hydrogeologic aspects and by 

exchange of groundwater and surface water from leakage at 

storm sewers. 

Hydrogeology

The surficial aquifer at Site 45 consists of sand interspersed with discontinuous beds of clay, silty clay, silty clayey 

sand, and clayey silt and extends to a depth of about 18 ft 

below land surface (BLS) (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 2004). Monitoring wells in this undifferentiated zone are referred to as SU 

wells if they are screened predominantly shallower than about 

11 ft BLS and are referred to as SL wells if they are screened 

predominantly deeper than about 10 ft BLS. 

A peat layer, which is a few feet thick, has been reported 

at depths of about 17 to 27 ft BLS overlying a clay layer that 

functions as a confining bed (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 2004). 

The part of the aquifer below this clay is considered to be the 

“D” horizon. Core samples collected during this investigation 

showed the peat layer to be a complex mixture of sand, silt, 

and clay with a substantial amount of black to brown organic 

material. The layer was encountered at a depth of 17.8 ft BLS 

in well PAI-45-MW28-D and 18.7 to 18.8 ft BLS at wells PAI45-MW29-D and PAI-45-MW30-D. Sediment that probably 

was the top part of the layer was encountered at a depth of 

15.2 ft BLS at well PAI-45-USGS-TW96. 

The thickness of the clay at the base of the surficial 

aquifer was about 5 to 8 ft in wells drilled during a previous 

investigation (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 2004). During the present 

investigation, descriptions on the clay layer are based partly 

on split-spoon samples (top part of the clay) and partly on 

cuttings from mud-rotary drilling (bottom part of the clay). 

Thus, there is some uncertainty about the thickness of the clay. 

The clay layer at well PAI-45-MW28-D appeared to be about 

3.5 ft thick at well PAI-45-MW28-D and between 2 and 3 ft 

thick at well PAI-45-MW30-D. At well PAI-45-MW29-D, an 

organic rich silt was encountered at a depth of 18.8 ft BLS. 

Mud-rotary cuttings below a depth of 19.6 ft BLS in well PAI45-MW19-D showed a thin layer of sand, possibly at a depth 

of about 20–21 ft BLS, underlain by about 7.5 ft of clay.

The surficial aquifer at well PAI-45-MW28-D consists of 

silty sand with a zone of fine-grained very loose sand between 

about 6 and 11.4 ft BLS. The loose-sand zone probably constitutes the most permeable part of the surficial aquifer at well 

PAI-45-MW28-D. In the midpart of the plume at temporary 

well PAI-45-USGS-TW96 (near wells PAI-45-MW31-SL and 

PAI-45-MW31-SU), the sediment between depths of 4 and 

16 ft BLS is sandiest between depths of 8 and 15.3 ft BLS, 

with fine-grained, loose sand at a depth of 8–10 ft BLS. The 

8- to 10-ft zone probably constitutes the most permeable part 

of the surficial aquifer at well PAI-45-USGS-TW96. These 

findings are consistent with a previous passive-flux study 

showing a zone of relatively high Darcy flux between depths 

of about 9.5 and 11 ft BLS near the midpart of the southern 

plume at wells PFM-02 and PFM-03 (EnviroFlux, LLC, 

2007). The lithologic and passive-flux data indicate that the 

most permeable part of the surficial aquifer in the southern 

plume beneath Kyushu Street probably is in the range of 

6–11.4 ft BLS near the new dry-cleaning facility and about 
Site Description 13

8–10 ft BLS in the approximate midpart of the plume near 

wells PAI-45-MW31-SL and PAI-45-MW31-SU. 

In the downgradient part of the plume near well clusters 

PAI-45-MW04 and PAI-45-MW20, passive-flux tests from 

the previous investigation showed a higher Darcy flux in the 

SU wells relative to the SL wells (EnviroFlux, LLC, 2007; 

Hackett and others, 2008). These findings are consistent with 

previously published slug-test data showing that the geometric 

mean of hydraulic conductivity (K) calculated from upper surficial aquifer wells [8 feet per day (ft/d)] was slightly greater 

than that calculated from the lower surficial aquifer wells 

(2 ft/d) (Tetra Tech, NUS, Inc., 2004).

A broad range of groundwater flow rates can be calculated from previously reported well tests at Site 45. Typical 

Darcy velocities estimated from passive-flux meter tests were 

about 0.027 ft/d [0.82 centimeter per day (cm/d)] at well 

MW10SL and about 0.020 to 0.095 ft/d (0.6 to 2.9 cm/d) at 

well PFM-01 (Enviroflux, LLC, 2007). At wells PFM-02 and 

PFM-03, the Darcy velocities ranged from about 0.033 to 

0.164 ft/d (1 to 5 cm/d) at depths below 10 ft. Using a geologically reasonable porosity of 0.3 to 0.45, the calculated seepage 

velocity (Darcy velocity divided by porosity) ranges from 

about 16 to 199.5 feet per year (ft/yr).

Slug tests in the lower surficial aquifer by Tetra Tech 

NUS, Inc. (2004) showed a geometric mean K of about 2 ft/d. 

The hydraulic gradients between wells PAI-45-MW25-SL 

and PAI-45-MW31-SL and between wells PAI-45-MW31-SL 

and PAI-45-MW20-SL are about 0.0052 to 0.0053, based on 

the average of instantaneous gradients measured at 15-minute 

intervals between September 10 and September 29, 2008, 

during the present investigation. Using an assumed range of 

porosity of about 0.3–0.45, the seepage velocity [(K × hydraulic gradient)/porosity] can be calculated to be about 9–13 ft/yr.

Aquifer tests from a previous investigation gave an overall average K for the surficial aquifer of about 15.3 ft/d (Tetra 

Tech NUS, Inc., 2004). Using a hydraulic gradient of about 

0.0052–0.0053 and a range of porosity of about 0.3–0.45, the 

calculated seepage velocity is about 65–97 ft/yr.

The variety of calculated seepage velocities in the previous discussion illustrates the uncertainty with calculations 

of groundwater velocity. The actual groundwater velocity 

almost certainly varies across the site with aquifer heterogeneity. Based strictly on aquifer tests (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 

2004), the mean groundwater velocity in the southern plume is 

between the end values of about 9 and 97 ft/yr.

The surficial aquifer at Site 45 is unconfined. Depth to 

water is about 2–6 ft. Groundwater is recharged primarily 

from rainfall infiltration in non-paved areas. Some amount of 

recharge also may take place during rainfall events through 

partially collapsed storm sewers. For example, on June 4, 

2008, repairs were done on partially collapsed storm sewer 

STS01 (fig. 6). Prior to the repairs, runoff from Kyushu Street 

south of the new dry cleaner collected and flowed into the 

asphalt cracks adjacent to the storm drain rather than into 

the storm drain. Thus, rainfall-derived runoff flowed into a 

focused part of the aquifer rather than being diverted offsite 

by the storm-sewer system. Because partially collapsed storm 

sewers are not always obvious from a casual surface inspection, there is the possibility that such localized rainfall infiltration is or has been influential in other parts of the site. 

A primary discharge path for groundwater at Site 45 

appears to be to storm sewers. The inverts (bottoms) of some 

sections of the storm-sewer system at Site 45 are below the 

high-tide level and below the groundwater levels (figs. 8 

and 9). At the downgradient part of the southern plume, the 

bottoms of manholes STS05 and STS06 are at altitudes of 0.86 

and 0.45 ft relative to NAVD 88 (about 5.5 and 5.4 ft BLS) 

and about 1.2 and 2.4 ft below the water table, respectively 

(fig. 8). At the downgradient part of the northern plume, the 

bottoms of manholes STS13 and STS21 are at altitudes of 2.1 

and 1.07 ft relative to NAVD 88 (about 4.3 to 4.6 ft BLS) and 

about 0.3 to 1.3 ft below the water table, respectively (fig. 8). 

Groundwater in both the SU and SL wells shows a 

general movement from the northwest to the southeast (figs. 8 

and 9). The groundwater contours in the SU wells show strong 

curvature toward some of the storm sewers where the inverts 

of the sewers are deeper than the water table (fig. 8). These 

data indicate that groundwater discharges to the storm-sewer 

system in those areas. Curvature of the groundwater contours 

is less pronounced for the SL wells than for the SU wells, 

possibly reflecting a diminished hydraulic influence from the 

storm sewers on the deeper part of the surficial aquifer (fig. 9). 

Infiltration of groundwater into sewers is not unusual 

when the sewers are below the water table, and in some 

municipal systems, infiltration of groundwater to sewer 

systems can be widespread and overwhelming (Wolf and 

others, 2003; Jamison, 2007). Discharge of groundwater 

to storm sewers at Navy bases may be more common than 

currently recognized considering the low altitude of many 

Navy bases and a previous report of groundwater discharge to 

storm sewers at U.S. Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida 

(Davis, 2003). 

Because the storm-sewer system connects to tidally 

influenced Ballast Creek, tidal water enters the storm drains 

through an open drain approximately 1,400 ft south of Site 45 

during incoming tides. Incoming tidal water moves inland 

through the sewer system at least as far as to Site 45. A waterlevel logger recorded tidally induced water-level increases of 

more than 3 ft in the storm sewer at manhole STS06 (fig. 10). 

Surficial aquifer groundwater levels in the vicinity of the 

storm sewers also rise and fall in response to tidal cycles. In 

general, where the invert of the storm sewer is below the water 

table, groundwater levels tend to be higher than water levels in 

the storm sewer at low tide and lower than in the storm sewer 

about 1 to 2 hours preceding and following high tide. The 

higher water levels in the storm sewers than in the groundwater about 1 to 2 hours preceding and following high tide 

indicate a short-term potential for movement of tidal water 

from the storm sewers to the aquifer. 
14 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Figure 8. Groundwater levels in the SU wells in the surficial aquifer, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 

June 27, 2008.

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

Panama Street 3.4 

3.3

3.1

3.2

2.9 

2.8 

3.0

A 

A A 

A 

A 

A A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A PAI-45-MW31-SU A 

PAI-45-MW14-SU 

PAI-45-MW02-SU 

PAI-45-MW01-SU 

PAI-45-MW08-SU 

PAI-45-MW21-SU PAI-45-MW07-SU 

PAI-45-MW16-SU 

PAI-45-MW05-SU 

PAI-45-MW22-SU 

PAI-45-MW23-SU

PAI-45-MW19-SU PAI-45-MW04-SU

PAI-45-MW20-SU 

PAI-45-MW18-SU 

PAI-45-MW17-SU

PAI-45-MW15-SU 

PAI-45-MW10-SU 

PAI-45-MW06-SU 

PAI-45-MW03-SU 

PAI-45-MW13-SU

A 

A 

A 

2.76 

2.48 2.34

2.11

2.72 

2.43

1.98

2.61 

2.29 

2.58 

2.85 

2.90 2.80

2.73 

3.45 

3.02 

2.50 

2.62

2.53

2.18 

3.09 

Storm sewer, manhole or drain, and location identifier. Line dashed where historical or uncertain location. 

Storm sewer is highlighted in yellow where it is known or suspected to be below the water table. Number in 

parentheses is estimated altitude of invert, in feet above NAVD 88.

EXPLANATION 

WSTS06

(0.45)

A Monitoring well, identifier, and water level, in feet above NAVD 88, June 27, 2008, low tide. 

PAI-45-MW20-SU

2.61

2.7 

2.6 

2.5

2.4

2.3

2.2 

2.0

2.1

Water-level contour, June 27, 2008. Interval is 0.1 foot. Datum is North American Vertical Datum of 1988

(NAVD 88). Dashed where inferred. Arrows show general direction of groundwater movement. 

2.3

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

W

W

W

W W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

STS02

(2.65)

STS03

(1.09)

STS04

(2.94)

STS05

(0.86)

STS06

(0.45)

STS07

(0.34)

STS09

(3.51)

STS08

(3.88)

STS22

(0.56)

STS16

(3.02)

STS21

(1. 07)

STS14

(2.3) STS13

(2.1)

(1.54)

STS12

(3.41)

STS20

(1. 19)

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 
Site Description 15

Figure 9. Groundwater levels in the SL wells in the surficial aquifer, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 

June 27, 2008.

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

Panama Street 3.4

3.3

3.4

3.2

3.1

3.0

2.9

2.8

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.4

2.3

2.2

2.1

2.0

A 

A A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

PAI-45-MW13-SL

PAI-45-MW10-SL 

PAI-45-MW25-SL 

PAI-45-MW06-SL 

PAI-45-MW01-SL 

PAI-45-MW08-SL 

PAI-45-MW07-SL PAI-45-MW02-SL 

PAI-45-MW21-SL 

PAI-45-MW14-SL 

PAI-45-MW16-SL 

PAI-45-MW05-SL

PAI-45-MW03-SL 

PAI-45-MW22-SL 

PAI-45-MW23-SL

PAI-45-MW19-SL

PAI-45-MW04-SL 

PAI-45-MW20-SL 

PAI-45-MW17-SL 

PAI-45-MW18-SL 

PAI-45-MW26-SL 

PAI-45-MW27-SL

PAI-45-MW15-SL 

A 

A 

A 

PAI-45-MW31-SL 

A 

2.10 

2.46 

2.32 

2.29 

2.56 

2.71 

2.93 

2.82

3.17 3.05 

3.46 

2.62 

3.22 

3.01 

2.55 

2.74 

2.30 

2.05 

2.11

2.32 

2.70 

1.97

2.70 

2.67

Storm sewer, manhole or drain, and location identifier. Line dashed where historical or uncertain location. 

Storm sewer is highlighted in yellow where it is known or suspected to be below the water table. Number in parentheses 

is estimated altitude of invert, in feet above NAVD 88.

EXPLANATION 

A Monitoring well, identifier, and water level, in feet above NAVD 88, June 27, 2008, low tide. 

PAI-45-MW20-SL

2.11

Water-level contour, June 27, 2008. Interval is 0.1 foot. Datum is North American Vertical Datum of 1988

(NAVD 88). Dashed where inferred. Arrows show approximate direction of groundwater movement. 

2.3

WSTS06

(0.45)

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

W

W

W

W W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

STS02

(2.65)

STS03

(1.09)

STS04

(2.94)

STS05

(0.86)

STS06

(0.45)

STS07

(0.34)

STS09

(3.51)

STS08

(3.88)

STS22

(0.56)

STS16

(3.02)

STS21

(1. 07)

STS14

(2.3) STS13

(2.1)

(1.54)

STS12

(3.41)

STS20

(1. 19)

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 
16 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

A groundwater map for the “D”-horizon wells is not 

shown because groundwater levels across the site on June 27, 

2008, differed by only 0.16 ft or less, with the exception of 

well PAI-45-MW11-D. In general, the slight hydraulic gradient was from the northwest to the southeast. In contrast, the 

groundwater level in well PAI-45-MW11-D typically showed 

a marked dissimilarity from the other D-horizon wells. For 

example, on June 27, 2008, the groundwater level in well PAI45-MW11-D was more than 1 ft lower than the groundwater 

level in any other D-horizon well and appeared to be more 

sensitive to tidal fluctuations than the remaining D-horizon 

wells. Water levels in well PAI-45-MW11-D were more than 

2 ft lower than in wells in the overlying SL horizon. Releveling of the well measuring point revealed no significant datum 

error. The reason for the anomalous water levels in well PAI45-MW11-D was not investigated further.

Groundwater Chemistry

The surfical aquifer at Site 45 is anaerobic at most locations, with DO concentrations less than 0.3 milligram per liter 

(mg/L) and sometimes less than 0.025 mg/L. Although aerobic 

groundwater conditions in the shallow part of the surficial 

aquifer were observed during two events at well PAI-45-MW20-SU (September 29, 2006, and September 10, 2007) and 

during one event at well PAI-45-MW-05-SU (September 8, 

2008), anaerobic conditions also prevailed in groundwater 

from these wells on other sampling dates. Thus, the dominant 

redox reactions in the contaminated aquifer are anaerobic.

The specific terminal electron accepting process (TEAP) 

probably varies spatially in the study area. The patchy brown 

coloring of the sand in some shallow parts of the surficial 

aquifer (less than about 6–8 ft BLS) indicates that iron 

reduction probably is an active electron accepting activity in 

the shallowest sediment (lithologic logs from wells PAI-45-

MW28-D and PAI-45-USGS-TW96). The USEPA reported 

an increase in acid-extractable iron from sediment cores with 

depth from about 8.4 to 16 ft BLS in the upgradient part of the 

southern plume (Scott Huling, U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, written commun., 2009). These data may mean that 

iron reduction continues to be a predominant TEAP to a depth 

of at least 16 ft BLS; however, it also is possible that the acidextractable iron does not represent bioavailable ferric iron. 

Data from the present investigation indicate that the dominant 

TEAP in groundwater from some of the SL wells is more 

reducing than iron reduction. 

The sediment is predominantly gray at depths below 

about 8 ft in parts of the southern plume, indicating less of a 

potential for iron reduction at depth than in shallower sediment. When ferric iron is unavailable and sulfate is present 

in an anaerobic aquifer, sulfate reduction is commonly the 

predominant TEAP. Sulfate concentrations in groundwater 

in the vicinity of the southern-plume source area are about 

40 to 50 mg/L (well PAI-45-MW25-SL). In the downgradient 

part of the southern plume at well PAI-45-MW20-SL, sulfate 

concentrations in the groundwater are about 112 to 130 mg/L. 

In anaerobic aquifers lacking more efficient electron acceptors, 

such as ferric iron, these concentrations are sufficient to allow 

sulfate reduction to outcompete methanogenesis (Vroblesky 

and others, 1996). If the gray sediment at depths below 8 ft 

indicates that there is insufficient bioavailable ferric iron to 

support iron reduction, then it is likely that sulfate reduction is the predominant TEAP in much of the contaminated 

 6/11/2007 6/12/2007 6/13/2007 Water-level altitude, in feet relative to North American Vertical Datum of 1988

0

1

2

3

4

Well: PAI-45-MW04-SL

Well: PAI-45-MW20-SL

Storm-sewer manhole STS06

Base of manhole STS06

Well: PAI-45-MW17-SL

Tidal event Rainfall event

Figure 10. Water levels in selected monitoring wells and stormsewer manhole STS06, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, June 11–13, 2007.
Site Description 17

aquifer of the southern plume. Although sulfide typically was 

not detected in the wells, 0.28 to 0.47 mg/L of sulfide was 

detected in groundwater at well PAI-45-MW20-SU during 

2008. In addition, molecular hydrogen (H2

) measurements 

ranged from 1.1 to 3.4 nanomoles per liter (nM) in six out of 

the seven tested wells in the surficial aquifer. H2

 concentrations in anaerobic systems can be classified as follows: less 

than 0.1 nM, characteristic of denitrification; 0.2–0.8 nM, 

characteristic of iron reduction; 1–4 nM, characteristic of 

sulfate reduction; and greater than 5 nM, characteristic of 

methanogenesis, with in-between ranges being not diagnostic 

(Chapelle and others, 1997). Thus, most of the measured H2

concentrations were in the range of sulfate reduction. The H2

concentration in one out of the seven tested wells was in the 

range characteristic of methanogenesis.

The methane concentrations in groundwater from the 

source-area well of the southern plume (PAI-45-MW25-SL) 

are relatively low [180–754 micrograms per liter (μg/L)]; 

however, methane concentrations in groundwater from a 

number of other wells in the southern plume are greater than 

1,000 μg/L. The elevated methane concentrations may partly 

represent methane from probable methanogenic degradation in the organic-rich layer (peat zone) at the base of the 

surficial aquifer, below the screened intervals of the monitoring wells. The presence of paved areas has the potential 

to trap some methane otherwise released from groundwater 

to the atmosphere, possibly explaining why methane concentrations are higher in the shallower SU wells than in the 

deeper SL well beneath Kyushu Street at well clusters PAI45-MW10 and PAI-45-MW31. Low concentrations of acetic 

acid (0.11–0.33 mg/L) are present in groundwater from a 

number of wells in the southern plume, however, indicating that part of the methane probably represents localized 

pockets of methanogenesis in the surficial aquifer at or near 

the screened intervals of wells. Support of this hypothesis is 

that the H2

 value of groundwater at well PAI-45-MW31-SL 

was 31 nM on September 9, 2008, which is in the range of 

methanogenic conditions.

Groundwater in the SL wells had a greater specific 

conductance and greater chloride concentration than groundwater in the SU wells. The contrast is most pronounced at 

well cluster PAI-45-MW17, where the specific conductance 

of water was 622–942 microsiemens per centimeter (μS/cm) 

from the SU well and 4,264–5,917 μS/cm from the SL well. 

Chloride concentrations ranged from about 68 to 162 mg/L 

in groundwater at the SU screen and from about 1,160 to 

1,750 mg/L in groundwater at the SL screen. Because this well 

cluster is near a storm sewer that is more than 1 ft below the 

water table, the conductivity contrast may represent density 

stratification from leakage of saltwater from the storm sewer 

at high tide. Although not as pronounced as at well cluster 

PAI-45-MW17, the elevated specific conductance, chloride, 

and sodium concentrations in SL wells (compared with the SU 

wells) at other tested well clusters indicates some degree of 

vertical density stratification elsewhere in the surficial aquifer. 

Additional evidence for conductivity stratification can be 

seen at well PFM-02 (fig. 3) in the central part of the southern 

plume, where the specific conductance substantially increases 

with depths greater than 15 ft BLS (fig. 11).

In the three D-horizon wells tested below the surficial aquifer in this investigation (wells PAI-45-MW28-D, 

-MW29-D, and -MW30-D), the chloride and specific conductance were substantially greater than in the surficial aquifer. 

Chloride concentrations ranged from 1,940 to 5,520 mg/L, 

and specific conductance ranged from 7,050 to 17,714 μS/cm. 

Salinity measured in well PAI-45-MW29-D [8.1 milligrams 

per milliliter (mg/mL)] indicated that water in the D horizon 

is brackish. 

Low levels of non-chlorinated-solvent constituents are 

present in groundwater in the surficial aquifer at concentrations exceeding USEPA maximum contaminant levels 

(MCLs). In September 2008, six wells in the surficial aquifer 

were sampled for dissolved arsenic. Of these six wells, two 

were SU wells, and neither contained arsenic at a detection 

limit of 0.005 mg/L. The four remaining wells were SL wells; 

three out of the four of these wells contained dissolved arsenic 

concentrations in the range of 0.13 to 0.22 mg/L, which is 

greater than the USEPA MCL of 0.01 mg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002).

Finally, low concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons 

were present in well PAI-45-MW27-SL near the former temporary lodging facility (table 1, fig. 3). The petroleum hydrocarbons were detected at similar concentrations in the sample 

and in a duplicate, and the anomalously low sulfate concentration (2.63–2.94 mg/L) and high methane concentration 

Specific conductance, 

in microsiemens per centimeter

at 25 degrees Celsius

500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000

Depth, in feet below land surface

0

5

10

15

20

Figure 11. Vertical profile of specific 

conductance at well PFM-02, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 

June 14, 2007.
18 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

from the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning facility to approximately the intersection of Samoa Street and the 

entrance to the Building 293 driveway. Because the northern 

plume has been studied extensively in previous investigations 

(Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 2004, 2005), the present investigation 

concentrated on the southern plume and the downgradient 

part of the northern plume. The distribution of groundwater 

contamination shown in figures 12–15 represents data from 

multiple sampling events during an approximate 2-year period. 

In the southern plume, the data include groundwater samples 

from temporary wells installed for this investigation on multiple dates, from temporary wells installed during a previous 

investigation in 2006 (Mark Sladic, Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 

written commun., 2006), and from permanent wells that were 

sampled in 2008. Thus, the mapped configurations of individual constituents represent generalized distributions rather than 

snapshots in time. The data from the northern plume represent 

samples collected primarily during a single event (June 2007), 

but include data from a monitoring well sampled in June 2008. 

The downgradient part of the northern plume extends 

southeastward to the storm drain connected to storm drain 

STS21 (fig. 6). No detectable groundwater contamination 

was found in temporary or permanent wells east of that storm 

drain beneath the former temporary lodging parking lot 

(figs. 12–15).

The main part of groundwater contamination in the 

southern plume extends from the southeastern corner of the 

new dry-cleaning facility southeastward toward well PAI45-MW20-SL (figs. 3 and 12). PCE concentrations in the 

southern plume were greatest in the source area at the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning facility (62,400 μg/L) 

and were greater than 10,000 μg/L in the middle part of the 

Table 1. Concentrations of total organic carbon in sediment cores, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit 

Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008.

[J, estimated value; <, less than; MCL, maximum contaminant level for drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed on June 18, 2009, at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html#mcls]

Well identifier Date

Concentration, in micrograms per liter

Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene Xylenes 

(total) Naphthalene

PAI-45-MW27-SL September 11, 2007 6.01 1.55J 5.14 8.44 606

PAI-45-MW27-SL 

duplicate

September 11, 2007 5.94 1.38J 4.94J 8.49 555

PAI-45-USGS-TW21 June 25, 2007 0.952J <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 6.98

PAI-45-USGS-TW26 June 25, 2007 1.71 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25

PAI-45-USGS-TW36 June 25, 2007 4.17 <0.5 1.21J 1.97J 81.9

PAI-45-USGS-TW65 June 28, 2007 5.36 <1.25 3.81J 6.55 397

PAI-45-USGS-TW71 August 29, 2007 2.66 0.759J 0.759J 0.773J 119

MCL Not applicable 5 1,000 700 10,000 Not established

(7,310–7,630 μg/L) are consistent with a shift from sulfate 

reduction to methanogenesis, as is common when petroleum 

hydrocarbons are present in an aquifer. Low concentrations of 

petroleum hydrocarbons also were detected in temporary wells 

drilled near the former temporary lodging facility in June and 

August 2007 (table 1, fig. 4). The source of the petroleum 

hydrocarbons is not known. Some of the benzene detections 

were slightly greater than the 5-μg/L MCL established by the 

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). 

Distribution of Chlorinated-Solvent 

Groundwater Contamination

This investigation examined aspects related to areal and 

vertical distribution of the groundwater contamination. Data 

related to the areal distribution of groundwater contamination 

were collected for the southern plume and the downgradient 

part of the northern plume. Data related to the vertical distribution of groundwater contamination were collected only for 

the southern plume.

Areal Distribution of Groundwater 

Contamination

Groundwater contamination by chlorinated solvents 

at Site 45 is present in two lobes with some probable intermingling in downgradient parts (figs. 12–15). The northern 

plume extends southeastward from the northern part of the 

former dry-cleaning facility. The southern plume extends 
Distribution of Chlorinated-Solvent Groundwater Contamination 19

Northern 

Plume 

Southern Plume 

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

" " 

" " 

" 

" 

" 

" " 

" 

" 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @A @

A @

A 

A 

ND 

ND 

4J 

ND 

0.5J 

ND 

ND 

ND 

ND 

6,000 

2,300 

1,900 

14,000 

358 

1.3 

7,240 

11.5 

<0.5 

1,030 

<0.25 

20,400 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.250H 

361 

454 

315 

149 

315 

114 

157 

754B 

53.7 

2,380 

<0.5 

4,780 

1.69 

5,240 

93.9 

1.43 

<0.5 

1.49 

21.4 

1.57 

2.12 

4.95 

<0.5 

31.8 

<0.25 

7.29B 

1.88B 

14.0J 

<12.5 

<2.5 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<2.5 

<1.25 

<12.5 

<0.25 

<2.5 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<25 

<1 

<0.25 

<0.25 

17,100 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 <1.25 <1.25 

<0.25 

3.45J 

<0.25 

<1.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<2.50 

<5.00 

3,480 

<0.25 

<12.5 <0.25 

<5.00 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<1.25 

<0.25 

6,170B 0.359J 

0.271J 

10,200 

62,400 

0.798J 

0.259J 

0.259J 

0.401J 

23,000B 

10 100 

1,000 

10 

100 

1,000 

10,000 

Concentration of tetrachloroethene, in micrograms 

per liter. [<, less than; J, estimated; H, analyzed out of 

holding time; ND, not detected at unstated detection limit]

Line of equal tetrachloroethene

concentration, in micrograms per liter.

Interval variable as shown. Dashed where

uncertain.

<0.25

7.26J 

<0.25 

<2.5 

" USGS Temporary well sampled during March 2008

#

#

A

$

USGS Temporary well sampled during June 2007

USGS Temporary well sampled during August 2007

Monitoring well sampled during June 2008 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., temporary well, 2006 (Mark Sladic, 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., written commun., 2007)

10

Storm sewer

Sanitary sewer

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 12. Generalized distribution of tetrachloroethene in groundwater at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, 2006–2008.
20 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Northern 

Plume 

Southern Plume 

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

" " 

" " 

" 

" 

" 

" " 

" 

" 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @A @

A @

A 

A 

1 

1,000 

100 

1 

100 10 

100 

10 

100 

1,000 

10 

1 

ND 

1J 

0.8J 

ND 

ND 

17 

30 

430 

3,900 

2,900 

6,600 

1,100 

8,200 

4,380 

4,210 

3,270 

1.48 

1.67 

6.32 

50.4 

(263 on 

9/10/07) 

<0.5 

3,440 

<0.25 <0.250H 

19 

183 

3.3 

177 155 

231 

176 

557 

195 

898 

226 

1.5 

2.12 

63.3 

3,470 

21.1 

1,180 

1.04 

19.4 

11.9 

5.24 22.2 

6,100 

6.72 

6.44 

7,600 

17.6 

3.27 

<0.5 

16.4 

6.95 1.34 

17.6 

23.9 

38.3 

1.94 

4.22 

26.2 

<0.25 

5,020 

2,720 

1,510 

2,160 

3,200 

<0.25 <0.25 

<1.25 

4,100 

<0.25 

<0.25 

7,360 

5,530 

2,270 

<0.25 

7,590 

4,020 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<1.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

<0.25 

8,700 

1,720 

2,760 

<0.25 

<0.25 

1,760 

2,160 <0.25 

<0.25 

0.968J 

0.888J 

0.752J 

0.686J 

0.258J 

0.358J 

7,160 

Concentration of trichloroethene, in micrograms 

per liter. [<, less than; J, estimated; H, analyzed out of 

holding time; ND, not detected at unstated detection limit]

Line of equal trichloroethene

concentration, in micrograms per liter.

Interval variable as shown. Dashed where

uncertain.

<0.25

, unless otherwise noted

<0.25 

276 

<2.5 

" USGS Temporary well sampled during March 2008

#

#

A

$

USGS Temporary well sampled during June 2007

USGS Temporary well sampled during August 2007

Monitoring well sampled during June 2008 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., temporary well, 2006 (Mark Sladic, 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., written commun., 2007)

10

Storm sewer

Sanitary sewer

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 13. Generalized distribution of trichloroethene in groundwater at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, 2006–2008.
Distribution of Chlorinated-Solvent Groundwater Contamination 21

Northern 

Plume 

Southern Plume 

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

" " 

" " 

" 

" 

" 

" " 

" 

" 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @A @

A @

A 

A 800 

ND 

1J 

ND 

ND 

8 

10 

27 

340 

210 

550 

1,100 

2,000 

362 

983 

144 

406 

126 

1,350 

3.32 

99.8 

2.48 

1,450 

5.38H 

413 

411 

573 

112 

562 

761 365 

653 

833 

6.2 

110 

750 

511 

771 

472 

147 

180 

760 

628 

3.5 

214 339 

239 

174 

260 

815 

142 

268 

1.3 

<0.3 

<0.3 

<0.3 

17.6 

39.7 

4.21 

8.88 

52.1 

10.2 

5.12 

9.71 

6.05 

8.95 

2.62 

14.3 

8.67 

7.68 5.34 

79.3 

11.9 

13.8 

14.1 

3.71 

1.89 

10.6 

5.23 

37.1 

41.6 

1,010 

1,640 

2,180 

1,160 

8,380 

2,190 

1,180 

2,960 

1,420 

1,140 

<0.3 

<0.3 

<0.3 

<0.3 

0.523J 

<0.3 

<0.300 

<0.3 

<0.3 

<0.3 

<0.3 

<0.3 

1,000 

100 

100 

100 

1,000 

10 

10 

10 

1 

1 

10 1 

Concentration of cis-1,2-dichloroethene, in micrograms 

per liter. [<, less than; J, estimated; H, analyzed out of 

holding time; ND, not detected at unstated detection limit]

Line of equal cis-1,2-dichloroethene

concentration, in micrograms per liter.

Interval variable as shown. Dashed where

uncertain.

10

1,010 

<0.3 

526 

" USGS Temporary well sampled during March 2008

#

#

A

$

USGS Temporary well sampled during June 2007

USGS Temporary well sampled during August 2007

Monitoring well sampled during June 2008 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., temporary well, 2006 (Mark Sladic, 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., written commun., 2007)

10

Storm sewer

Sanitary sewer

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 14. Generalized distribution of cis-1,2-dichloroethene in groundwater at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, 2006–2008.
22 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Northern 

Plume 

Southern Plume 

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

" " 

" " 

" 

" 

" 

" " 

" 

" 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# 

# # 

# 

# 

# 

# 

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @

A @A @

A @

A 

A 

<0.5 (9/9/08) A @A @

6 

8 

80 

70 

<5 

1 J 

<5 

<5 

<5 52 J 

180J 

140J 

420J 

92 

<1 

120 

<0.5 

46.5 

24.8 

<0.5 

5.52 

8.87 

>100 

<0.500H 

15 

<50 

<25 

<25 

377 

342 

201 

356 

362 

212 

189 

<0.5 

27.3 

<0.5 <0.5 

<0.5 

5.85 

<0.5 <0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

7.31 

10.3 

4.43 

1.29 

3.09 

<0.5 

<0.5 <500 

<0.5 

3.13 

<0.5 

<0.5 

4.75 

<0.5 

1.41 

<0.5 

<0.5 

6.87 

6.48 

<0.5 

<0.5 

5.48 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

4.07 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 37.3 

5.83 

<0.5 

<0.5 

36.4J 

<12.5 

6.24J 

<10.0 

<2.50 

<1.00 

30.0J 

<50.0 

<20.0 

3.72J <50.0 

<1.00 

<1.00 4.11J <2.50 

<2.50 

3.01J 

<5.00 

<10.0 

2,290 

<25.0 

0.576J 

0.986J 

0.748J 

0.684J 

<0.5 (9/9/08) 

100 

1,000 

10 

1 

100 

10 

1 

1 

Concentration of vinyl chloride, in micrograms 

per liter. [<, less than; J, estimated; H, analyzed out of 

holding time; ND, not detected at unstated detection limit]

Line of equal vinyl chloride

concentration, in micrograms per liter.

Interval variable as shown. Dashed where

uncertain.

10

183 

<0.5 

24.2 

" USGS Temporary well sampled during March 2008

#

#

A

$

USGS Temporary well sampled during June 2007

USGS Temporary well sampled during August 2007

Monitoring well sampled during June 2008 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., temporary well, 2006 (Mark Sladic, 

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., written commun., 2007)

10

Storm sewer

Sanitary sewer

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 15. Generalized distribution of vinyl chloride in groundwater at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, 2006–2008.
Distribution of Chlorinated-Solvent Groundwater Contamination 23

plume beneath Kyushu Street (fig. 12). Concentrations of TCE 

were relatively uniform along the axis of the southern plume 

(fig. 13). cDCE was most concentrated (1,100–2,180 μg/L) 

near the middle part of the plume between temporary wells 

PAI-45-USGS-TW48 and PAI-45-USGS-TW53 (figs. 4 

and 14). In general, VC also was most concentrated in the 

central part of the plume (greater than 100 μg/L) (fig. 15). 

An exception, however, is a temporary well (PAI-USGSTW44) near the new dry cleaner where a VC concentration of 

201 μg/L was found in the groundwater (fig. 15). 

Vertical Distribution of 

Groundwater Contamination

A variety of lines of evidence contribute to the interpretation of the vertical distribution of groundwater contamination 

at Site 45. The data include lithologic descriptions, ECD logs 

from MIP investigations, sediment analysis from core samples, 

and groundwater samples from temporary and permanent 

wells (fig. 16).

Although well PAI-45-MW28-D is screened below the 

surficial aquifer, lithologic data collected during the well 

installation provide information on the nature of the surficial 

aquifer at that well. Based only on lithologic considerations 

from drilling cores at well PAI-45-MW28-D, the most permeable part of the surficial aquifer near the new dry-cleaning 

facility probably is at a depth of about 6.5 to 11.4 ft BLS (altitude of about –1 to –5.9 ft relative to NAVD 88). That horizon 

consisted of loose, wet sand (fig. 17A). The zone beneath the 

sand was siltier and, therefore, less permeable, indicating that 

a depth of about 11.4 ft probably is the base of the zone transmitting most of the groundwater in the surficial aquifer at well 

PAI-45-MW28-D. This horizon probably is a few feet deeper 

at the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning facility 

because of the slight rise in altitude relative to Kyushu Street.

The ECD log indicates that at MIP7, near the new 

dry-cleaning facility, the VOC contamination begins at a 

depth of about 8 ft BLS (altitude of about –2.7 ft relative to 

NAVD 88), with a greater VOC concentration beginning at 

a depth of about 10–11 ft (altitude of –4.7 to –5.7 ft) below 

Kyushu Street (fig. 17B). At MIP2, also near the new drycleaning facility, but at a slightly higher altitude, a spike in the 

ECD log indicates a sharp increase in VOC contamination at 

a depth of about 12 ft BLS (altitude of about –5.3 ft relative 

to NAVD 88). The sharp increase in VOC contamination of 

MIP2 corresponds to the zone of increased VOC contamination at MIP7. The top of the zone of increased VOC contamination in MIP2 and MIP7 corresponds to the lowermost foot 

or so of loose sand at the probable base of the predominant 

flow regime in the surficial aquifer. 

Temporary wells sampled near the new dry-cleaning 

facility at depths of 7–11 ft BLS had lower concentrations of 

VOCs than at 11–15-ft BLS (fig. 17C, table 2). Thus, VOC 

concentrations are greater near the base of the loose sand than 

near the top. Because the 11–15-ft temporary wells appear 

to be partly screened in the loose sand and partly screened 

in the underlying less permeable material, most of the water 

sampled from the 11–15-ft temporary wells likely was derived 

from the loose sand in the top part of the screened interval 

rather than from the underlying less permeable material. This 

interpretation is consistent with the soil-core data indicating a 

sharp decrease in contaminant concentrations at depths greater 

than 12 ft BLS relative to shallower depths (fig. 17D) (Scott 

Huling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, written commun, 2009). Thus, it is likely that contamination near the new 

dry-cleaning facility is present from a few feet depth to about 

11.5 ft BLS, most of the contamination is at a depth of about 

8 to 11.5 ft. BLS, and the greatest concentrations are at the 

base of the 8–11.5 ft interval.

Further support for this hypothesis is that while temporary wells PAI-45-USGS-TW39 (upgradient part of the southern plume) and PAI-45-USGS-TW48 (midpart of the southern 

plume) were screened at depths of 10–14 and 10.5–14.5 ft 

BLS, respectively, and contained about 5,000 to 10,000 μg/L 

of PCE, several temporary wells between these two wells were 

screened at depths of 11–15 ft BLS and contained relatively 

little contamination (less than 250 μg/L and in most cases less 

than 50 μg/L of PCE). These wells included PAI-45-USGSTW73, -TW74, -TW83, -TW87, -TW88, -TW90, -TW91, 

-TW92, and -TW93 (fig. 4). The data are consistent with the 

interpretation that 11- to 15-ft-deep wells with comparatively 

little contamination were screened below the major contamination depth; therefore,wells PAI-45-USGS-TW73, -TW74, 

-TW83, -TW87, -TW88, -TW90, -TW91, -TW92, and -TW93 

are not included in figures 12–15. The depths of these wells 

were selected based on the MIP-log response showing relatively high ECD indications at depths from about 10 or 12 ft 

to about 15 ft (fig. 17B). It is likely, however, that as the MIP 

probe progressed downward, the most reliable reading was at 

the first encounters with contamination and the deeper ECD 

responses reflect some level of carry-over. Thus, in the area 

between temporary wells PAI-45-USGS-TW39 and PAI-45-

USGS-TW48, there appears to be comparatively little contamination at depths greater than 11 ft BLS.

In the midpart of the southern plume at temporary well 

PAI-45-USGS-TW96, the most permeable zone appears to 

be a loose sand layer from about 8 to 10 ft BLS (figs. 16 

and 18A). The shallowest sharp increase in ECD-log response 

was just above the base of this layer (fig. 18B), and greatest concentrations of VOCs detected in field measurements 

from this well were in the same layer (figs. 18C and 18E). 

Relatively high VOC concentrations also were detected at 

depths below 11 ft (figs. 18C and 18D). The VOC concentrations at temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW96 decreased with 

depth below about 13 ft BLS (figs. 18C and 18E) and were 

not detectable (less than 0.2 parts per million) at depths of 

14–14.8 ft directly above the organic-rich silt layer and at 

15.2–16 ft in the organic-rich silt layer (fig. 18C). The less 

porous nature of the organic-rich layer relative to the overlying sand and the downward decrease in VOC concentrations 

in sediment immediately above the organic-rich layer indicates 
24 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

New Dry-Cleaning

Facility

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Law offices 

(Building 293) 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry-Cleaning Facility

(Removed)

I

PAI-45-USGS-TW48

)

)

)

) )

)

PAI-45-USGS-TW80

PAI-45-USGS-TW77

PAI-45-USGS-TW78

PAI-45-USGS-TW81

PAI-45-USGS-TW94

) PAI-45-USGS-TW96

PAI-45-USGS-TW93

PAI-45-MW31-SU

A

A PAI-45-MW25-SL

A

PAI-45-MW31-SL

PAI-45-MW28-DA

Membrane interface probe (MIP) location and identifier

EXPLANATION

Monitoring well and identifier

)

PAI-45-USGS-TW93 Temporary well installed and sampled March 2008, and identifier

I PAI-45-USGS-TW48

)

PAI-45-USGS-TW96

Temporary well installed and sampled June 2007, and identifier

Temporary well cored April 2008, and identifier

+ T1-B Temporary well cored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008, and identifier

PAI-45-MW31-SLA MIP2

MIP3

MIP7

MIP2

+

+

T1-B

T3-B

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 16. Locations of sampling points shown in figures 17 and 18, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina.
Distribution of Chlorinated-Solvent Groundwater Contamination 25

A. General

lithology

at well

PAI-45-MW28-D,

June 22, 2008

Siltysand

Sand

Loose sand

Siltysand

Silty clay

Sand

Clay to 

No sample

sandy clay

0

6 5.0x10

7 1.0x10

G. MIP7 6 5.0x10

7 1.0x10

B. MIP2

MIP7 MIP2

5.0x10E6

1.0x10E7

0

Detector response, in millivolts

5.0x10E6

1.0x10E7

0

Millimoles per kilogram

02468

0.00 0.05 0.10

10121416

D. Total chorinated volatile

organic compounds

in sediment core

samples from boring T1-B,

 in millimoles per 

kilogram, March 2008. 

(Data from Scott

Huling, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, written 

commun., 2009)

PAI-45-USGS-TW77 20.5 3,470

PAI-45-USGS-TW78

PAI-45-USGS-TW80

PAI-45-USGS-TW81

PAI-45-USGS-TW94

45.5 3,200

732 2,160

19.9 1,510

863 5,020

C. Screened intervals and 

trichloroethene concentrations

in groundwater, in micrograms

per liter, June 2008

PAI-45-MW25-SL (9/11/2007) 4,330

Shallow screens in temporary

wells are 7−11 feet below land 

surface, and deeper screens 

are 11−15 feet below land surface.

Well PAI-45-MW25-SL is 

screened 10−15 feet below 

land surface.

10

14

0

2

4

68

12

Depth below land surface, in feet

1618

Depth below land surface, in feet 10

14

0

2

4

68

12

Depth below land surface, in feet

16

B. ECD log from MIP analysis, 

MIP7 and MIP2,

June 22, 2008

10

14

0

2

4

68

12

Depth below land surface, in feet

1618

Altitude, in feet relative to North American Vertical Datum of 1988

6

-10

42

0

-2

-4

-6-8

-12

8

-14

6

-10

420

-2-4-6-8

-12

8

-14

Figure 17. (A) Lithologic log, (

B) electron-capture-detector (ECD) logs from Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) investigation, (

C) trichloroethene concentrations in water 

from multiple depths in temporary wells, and (

D) total chlorinated volatile organic compounds in sediment from cores near the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning 

facility, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008.
26 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

that the organic-rich layer is not a major contaminant-transport 

pathway at well PAI-45-USGS-TW96. These data indicate 

that the probable depth of contamination in the midpart of the 

southern plume at well cluster PAI-45-MW31 is about 6–14 ft 

BLS, with most of the contamination between about 8 and 

11 or 12 ft BLS and the largest potential for lateral transport 

between about 8 and 10 ft BLS. 

Wells PAI-45-MW28-D, PAI-45-MW29-D, and PAI45-MW30-D (fig. 3) were installed below the clay layer at 

the base of the surficial aquifer to gain further information on 

water levels and water quality below the surficial aquifer. It 

cannot be stated with certainty that no VOC contamination is 

in the D horizon underlying the clay that defines the base of 

the surficial unit because the wells in the D horizon near the 

new dry-cleaning facility were installed slightly offset from 

the main body of contamination in the surfical aquifer to avoid 

the risk of inadvertent downward transport of possible free 

product from the surficial to the deeper aquifer during drilling. 

Groundwater levels in the D-horizon wells are lower than levels in the surficial aquifer wells, indicating that if there were a 

discontinuity in the clay layer, it is likely that there would be 

downward flow from the surficial to the deeper aquifers. Contamination, however, is unlikely to be present in the brackish 

D-horizon aquifer for several reasons. No evidence of groundwater contamination by VOCs was found in groundwater 

samples collected from D-horizon wells PAI-45-MW28-D, 

-29-D, and -30-D on June 7, 2008, and well PAI-45-MW28-

D was near the main body of contamination. Water samples 

from the wells contained less than 0.25 μg/L of PCE and TCE, 

less than 0.3 μg/L of cDCE, and less than 0.5 μg/L of VC. By 

virtue of its nearness to the main body of contamination in the 

southern plume and the probable slight hydraulic gradient to 

the southeast, it is likely that contamination would have been 

detected at well PAI-45-MW28-D if substantial contamination were present in the aquifer beneath the surficial aquifer. 

In addition, there are substantially lower VOC concentrations 

near the base of the surficial aquifer than in the vertical midpart 

of the surficial aquifer, indicating a low potential for downward 

transport through the base of the surficial aquifer. Finally, the 

organic-rich peat at the base of the surficial aquifer provides a 

substantial sorptive buffer for VOCs. 

Source of Chlorinated-Solvent 

Groundwater Contamination 

in the Southern Plume

Although the southern plume spatially originates from 

the new dry-cleaning facility, it is unlikely that the new drycleaning facility is the source of the contamination. From the 

beginning of its operation, the new dry-cleaning facility used 

ExxonMobil DF-2000 fluid as the cleaning solvent; this is a 

petroleum-based solvent and would not be a viable source of 

chlorinated-solvent contamination in the aquifer. 

Several lines of evidence indicate that the contaminant 

source in the southern plume was a leak from a sanitary sewer 

in the vicinity of the new dry-cleaning facility. In the initial 

stages of the present investigation, the USGS uncovered 

manhole SAS01 and determined it to be an abandoned sanitary 

sewer system shallower than the water table. When water 

was poured into the manhole, the water exited the manhole in 

the direction leading to the new dry-cleaning facility (fig. 6). 

Examination of engineering blueprints of historic and existing 

structures at Site 45 showed that the system was the sanitary 

Table 2. Concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds in shallow and deeper 

temporary-well groundwater samples near the new dry cleaning facility, March 5, 2008.

[ft NAVD 88, feet relative to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988; ft BLS, feet below land surface; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; <, less than; J, estimated value; 

B, target analyte was detected in the associated blank]

Well identifier

Groundsurface 

altitude 

(ft NAVD 88)

Screen 

interval 

(ft NAVD 88)

Screen 

interval 

(ft BLS)

PCE TCE cDCE VC

PAI-45-USGS-TW77 7.33 0.33 7–11 0.351J 20.5 47.9 <0.3

–3.67 11–15 454 3,470 365 <15

PAI-45-USGS-TW78 7.34 0.34 7–11 10.1 45.5 117 <0.3

–3.66 11–15 <12.5 3,200 761 <15

PAI-45-USGS-TW80 5.54 –1.46 7–11 366 732 82.6 <3

–5.46 11–15 6,170 2,160 112 <30

PAI-45-USGS-TW81 7.67 0.67 7–11 <0.25 19.9 107 <0.3

–3.33 11–15 14.0J 1,510 573 <7.5

PAI-45-USGS-TW94 6.6 0.67 7–11 331 863 213 <0.3

–3.33 11–15 754B 5,020 323 2.07
Distribution of Chlorinated-Solvent Groundwater Contamination 27

Sandy clay,

and clayey

to silty sand,

Silty sand

Loose

sand

No sample

Silt

Sand

A. General

lithology

at well

PAI-45-USGS-TW96,

April 30, 2008

C. Field analysis 

for volatile organic 

compounds using

AQR Color-Tec® 

method, well 

PAI-45-USGS-TW96,

in parts per million,

April 30, 2008

No sample

67.7 191 PAI-45-USGS-TW93

PAI-45-MW31-SU and -SL

PAI-45-USGS-TW48

1,480 4,380

7,950

TCE concentrations

 in wells in midpart

of plume (ug/L)

D. Screened intervals

and trichloroethene

concentrations

in groundwater, 

in micrograms

per liter, 

June 2008

05.0x10

6

1.0x10

7

C. MIP3

Detector 

response,

in millivolts

B. ECD log

from MIPs

analysis, MIP3,

June 22, 2008 5.0x10E6 1.0x10E7

0

Greater

than 25

20 

20 

Greater 

than 4 

2 

Not 

detected

5 

Not 

detected

0.00 0.02 0.04

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Millimoles per kilogram

E. Total chlorinated 

volatile organic 

compounds in sedimentcore samples from boring 

T3-B, in millimoles per 

kilogram, March 2008. 

(Data from Scott Huling, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

written commun., 2009)

Altitude, in feet relative to North American Vertical Datum of 1988

6

-10

-4

0

-2

-6

-8

2

4

-12

6

-10

-4

0

-2

-6

-8

2

4

-12

14

10

4

0

2

6

8

18

16

12

Depth below land surface, in feet

14

10

4

0

2

6

8

16

12

Depth below land surface, in feet

Depth below land surface, in feet

14

10

4

0

2

6

8

16

12

Depth below land surface, in feet

Figure 18. (A) Lithologic log, (B) electron-capture-detector (ECD) log from Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) investigation, 

(C) field analysis of volatile organic compounds in sediment cores, (D) trichloroethene concentrations in water from 

multiple depths in temporary wells, and (E) total chlorinated volatile organic compounds in sediment from cores near the 

southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning facility, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 2008.
28 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

sewer for the former dry-cleaning facility. The original sanitary sewer line, in place since the mid-1950s, appears to have 

extended to beneath what is now the southeastern corner of 

the new dry-cleaning facility and then turned about 90 degrees 

southward. The corner of the former sanitary sewer line that 

extended beneath the new dry-cleaning facility was replaced 

by a diagonal section of pipe extending from manhole SAS02 

to SAS03 sometime in the mid- to late-1990s. 

The sanitary sewer line was constructed of vitrified clay. 

A sewer-inspection camera was used to examine the integrity 

of the sewer line in 2007. The camera revealed that although 

the existing pipe between the former and new dry-cleaning 

facilities contained no collapsed sections, it contained many 

cracks, and grass roots extended into the pipe. Thus, it is 

highly probable that the abandoned sanitary sewer is leaky. 

The aquifer at the southeastern corner of the new drycleaning facility, where the section of the sanitary sewer was 

removed, contained the greatest PCE concentrations, the 

greatest PCE/daughter-product ratios, and the lightest PCE 

CSIA values in the southern plume. The direction of groundwater flow is to the southeast and the chemical data indicate 

that the area where the sanitary sewer was removed contains 

the most concentrated and least degraded parent compound in 

the southern plume. The southeastern corner of the new dry 

cleaning facility is, therefore, the likely source area for the 

southern plume. 

The coincidence of the southern plume source area 

with a removed section of sanitary sewer that was part of a 

cracked sanitary sewer system, the existence of documented 

and potentially undocumented PCE spills in the former drycleaning facility connected to that sanitary sewer, and the lack 

of a viable source for the PCE spill at the new dry-cleaning 

facility indicate that the probable source of the contamination 

at that location was leakage from the sanitary sewer system. 

In general, sewer leaks (exfiltration) have been recognized 

as potential contamination sources for many years (Amick 

and Burgess, 2000; Wakida and Lerner, 2004; Wolf and others, 2004; Rutsch and others, 2005; Held and others, 2006; 

Reynolds and Barrett, 2007). Leaking sewer lines have produced groundwater VOC contamination elsewhere (Squillace 

and others, 2004), including PCE contamination from drycleaning operations (State of Wisconsin, 1996).

An additional underground pipe was encountered during 

this investigation in a boring near well PAI-45-MW31-SU. 

This unmarked and unused pipe was not found on site blueprints. Therefore, other unidentified subsurface utilities may 

influence groundwater or contaminant transport.

Transport and Fate of 

Chlorinated Solvents

Groundwater contamination at Site 45 is subject to a 

variety of influences. One of the most important influences is 

site hydraulics, which are affected by the storm sewers. Other 

important influences include biodegradation and sorption. 

Storm-Sewer Influences on Transport

Data indicate that groundwater contamination in the 

northern plume discharges to the storm sewer containing storm 

grate STS21 and possibly to the section of storm sewer near 

manholes STS13 and STS14. These sections of storm drains 

are below the water table, and VOCs have been detected in the 

storm sewer at STS13, STS14, and STS21 (fig. 6 and table 3). 

In addition, the curvature of water-table contours around the 

storm sewer downgradient from storm grate STS21 indicates 

movement of groundwater to the storm drain from both sides 

(figs. 8 and 9). 

Data from temporary wells sampled during this investigation at the downgradient edge of the northern plume provide 

further evidence indicating an influence from the stormsewer system on the groundwater-contamination distribution. 

Groundwater from temporary wells PAI-45-USGS-TW4, 

-TW6, -TW8, and -TW10 immediately west of the storm 

sewer containing storm grate STS21 had more than 1,000 μg/L 

of cDCE at the 7–11 or 7.5–11.5 ft BLS (figs. 4, 6, and 14). 

In contrast, wells PAI-45-USGS-TW7 (screened at 7–11 ft 

BLS) and adjacent wells PAI-45-USGS-TW9 and PAI-45-

USGS-TW18 (screened at 7.5–11.5 ft BLS and 12–14.5 ft 

BLS, respectively) on the eastern side of the storm drain did 

not contain detectable VOCs (figs. 4, 6, and 12–15). The depth 

to water in that area was 3.24 to 3.75 ft (based on wells PAI45-MW14-SU and PAI-45-MW23-SU, respectively), and the 

depth of the storm drain containing manhole STS21 is about 

4.6 ft or greater. Thus, it is unlikely that the wells east of the 

storm sewer vertically missed the contamination beneath the 

former temporary lodging parking lot. The hydraulic gradients 

and lack of detectable VOCs east of the storm drain indicate 

that the storm-sewer system probably is a main discharge zone 

for the northern plume and effectively limits further expansion 

of the main axis of contamination in the northern plume. 

In the downgradient part of the northern plume near 

the entrance to the former temporary lodging parking lot, 

the storm sewer containing manholes STS13 and STS14 is 

shallower than the storm drain containing storm grate STS21 

(fig. 8). Thus, much of the groundwater contamination in the 

northern plume appears to underflow the western storm drain 

(containing STS14) and move toward the deeper storm drain 

farther east (containing STS21) (figs. 12–15). It is clear that 

some groundwater contamination discharges to the western 

storm sewer because TCE and cDCE were found in water 

at manhole STS14 on most of the sampling dates (table 3). 

During three out of the four sampling events at manhole 

STS14, groundwater levels were relatively low, compared 

with measurements in nearby well PAI-45-MW23-SU (2.54 

to 2.66 ft relative to NAVD 88). On those dates, TCE concentrations in water from manhole STS14 ranged from less than 

0.25 to 3.86 μg/L, and cDCE concentrations ranged from an 

estimated value of 0.937 to 4.78 μg/L. On September 8, 2007, 

however, the measured water level in well PAI-45-MW23-SU 

was 3.54, about a foot higher than on the previous sampling 

dates. The following day (September 9, 2008) a water sample 
Transport and Fate of Chlorinated

Solvents29

Table 3. Concentrations of selected constituents in storm sewers, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2007–2008. [1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; SC, specific conductance; Temp, temperature; μg/L, micrograms per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; <, less than; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; R, duplicate sample; Sample points PAI-SW1 and PAI-SW1R are within 1.5 feet of sample point STS26]

Site

 identifier

Date

(month/day/

year)

Time

(hours 

after low 

tide)

1,1-DCE

(μg/L)

1,2-DCE

(μg/L)

Benzene

(μg/L)

CB

(μg/L)

cDCE

(μg/L)

EB

(μg/L)

Napht

(μg/L)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

Tol

(μg/L)

tDCE

(μg/L)

VC

(μg/L)

Xyl

(μg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm at 

25 °C)

Temp

(°C)

STS05 5/31/2007 0.50 <0.3 35 <0.3 <0.25 34 <0.25 0.91BJ 20 77 <0.25 0.736J 2.6 <0.25 — — —

STS05 6/27/2007 0.18 <5 — — — 70 — — 30 100 — <5 7.0 — — — —

STS13 4/30/2007 1.5 <0.3 3.0 <0.3 <0.25 2.7 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 2.2 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS14 4/30/2007 1.5 <0.3 5.2 <0.3 <0.25 4.7 <0.25 <0.25 0.27J 2.4 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS14 5/14/2007 4.0 <0.3 4.8 <0.3 <0.25 4.8 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 3.9 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS14 6/16/2008 2.9 <0.3 0.94J <0.3 <0.25 0.94J <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS14 9/9/2008 0.5 0.7J 410 <0.3 <0.25 390 <0.25 <0.25 30 180 <0.25 7.4 20 <0.25 — — —

STS21 4/30/2007 1.5 <0.3 7.4 <0.3 <0.25 6.7 <0.25 22 <0.25 2.4 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS21 5/14/2007 4.0 <0.3 <0.30 <0.3 <0.25 <0.30 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS21 6/25/2007 high tide — — — — — — — — — — — — — 5.44 50,047 30.01

STS22 6/16/2008 3.0 <0.3 41 <0.3 <0.25 40 <0.25 9.3 0.60J 13 <0.25 0.693J 4.5 <0.25 — — —STS22 9/9/2008 0.5 <0.3 1.3 <0.3 <0.25 1.3 <0.25 0.58J <0.25 0.77J <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS26 9/10/2007 0 <0.3 2.5 <0.3 <0.25 2.5 <0.25 0.75J 0.69J 4.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS26 9/10/2007 3.0 <0.3 3.5 <0.3 <0.25 3.5 <0.25 0.90J 1.1 5.6 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS26 6/16/2008 1.0 <0.3 2.9 <0.3 <0.25 2.9 <0.25 0.27J 0.77J 2.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

STS27 9/9/2008 0 <0.3 0.59J <0.3 <0.25 0.59J <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.43J <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

PAI-SW1 6/16/2008 0.3 <0.3 1.6 <0.3 <0.25 1.6 <0.25 0.33J 0.44J 1.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —

PAI-SW1R 6/16/2008 0.3 <0.3 1.7 <0.3 <0.25 1.7 <0.25 <0.25 0.48J 1.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.50 <0.25 — — —
30 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

from manhole STS14 contained substantially greater VOC 

concentrations than on previous dates (183 μg/L of TCE and 

387 μg/L of cDCE). Most importantly, water from manhole 

STS14 contained 20.1 μg/L of VC. The western storm drain 

containing STS14 is a receptor of groundwater contamination 

from the northern plume and is more important as a receptor during periods of high groundwater levels than during 

periods of low groundwater levels. This is important because 

temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW15 (fig. 4) had groundwater contamination containing 2,290 μg/L of VC (June 25, 

2007) and is immediately adjacent to that storm sewer (figs. 4 

and 15). Thus, at high groundwater levels, there is the potential for increased amounts of VC to enter the storm sewer. If 

such an event occurs at a time when tidal flushing is low, then 

increased concentrations of VC could discharge at the stormsewer outfall. The MCL for VC in drinking water established 

by the USEPA is 2 μg/L, and VC has been associated with 

potential increased risk of cancer in adults (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). 

During times of low groundwater levels, relatively 

low concentrations of VOCs in the southernmost part of the 

northern plume may move southeastward beneath storm drain 

STS14. Based on this consideration and on groundwater flow 

directions (figs. 8 and 9), such movement may account for 

some of the low concentrations of TCE and cDCE detected in 

groundwater immediately west of the former temporary lodging (figs. 13 and 14). 

Data indicate that storm sewers also intercept contamination in the southern plume. Chlorinated solvents were 

detected in water from STS05 (30 μg/L of PCE, 100 μg/L of 

trichloroethene [TCE], 70 μg/L of cDCE, and 7 μg/L of VC in 

June 2007) (table 3, fig. 6). Well PAI-45-MW20-SL, a few feet 

north of the storm drain containing manhole STS05, contained 

more than 1,000 μg/L of TCE, while TCE in most of the 

temporary wells on the opposite of the storm drain contained 

less than 5 μg/L of TCE (fig. 13). Thus, it appears that the 

storm drain below the water table near well PAI-45-MW20-SL 

is a discharge zone for groundwater contamination. Manholes 

STS05 and STS06 are near each other and are about the same 

depth (fig. 8); therefore, the hydrology of the two manholes 

probably is similar. Because the groundwater levels in SL 

wells near these manholes is usually more than 2 ft higher 

than the water levels in the manholes (fig. 10), there probably 

is movement of contaminated water from parts of the aquifer 

deeper than the manholes upward toward the manholes, storm 

sewer, and the granular base material below the storm sewer.

 The presence of VOCs in water from manhole STS05 

and the sharp decline in contaminant concentrations from 

one side of the storm sewer to the other side indicate that a 

substantial part of the southern plume is captured by the storm 

sewer. The presence of VOCs in some temporary wells on 

the downgradient side of the storm sewers, however, indicates that some of the contamination in the southern plume 

bypasses the storm sewers. For example, 110–339 μg/L of 

cDCE was detected in groundwater on the downgradient side 

of the storm drain at temporary wells PAI-45-USGS-TW27, 

PAI-45-USGS-TW28, and PAI-45-USGS-TW64, and 155 

μg/L of TCE was detected in groundwater at well PAI-45-

USGS-TW27 (figs. 4, 13, and 14). 

Relatively low concentrations of groundwater contamination bypass the storm sewers at Site 45, as evidenced by 

concentrations of cDCE of about 5–7 μg/L in temporary wells 

between the storm sewer and the former temporary lodging 

(fig. 14). Based on site hydrology and the relatively leaky 

nature of the storm sewers, the groundwater contaminants 

probably are captured eventually by discharge to a deep storm 

sewer. Potential receptors include the storm sewers near manholes STS06, STS07, and STS22 (fig. 6).

Once in the storm-sewer system, VOCs are subject 

to a variety of contaminant-reduction influences. The largest influence is tidal action. The storm sewers at Site 45 

range in diameter from 12 to 36 inches; thus, a tidal change 

of greater than 3 ft in some of the storm sewers at Site 45 

represents a substantial amount of marsh water entering and 

exiting the pipes relative to the comparatively small amount 

of groundwater leaking into them. The tidal exchange dilutes 

the VOC concentrations in the storm sewers. Volatilization 

probably also removes some of the VOC contamination in the 

storm sewers.

During outgoing tides, the diluted contamination in the 

storm sewer is transported southward and discharges to Ballast Creek. Based on a dye test, the contaminant-transport 

time through approximately 1,400 ft of storm sewer from 

Site 45 to Ballast Creek during outgoing tides is a little more 

than 1 hour (fig. 19). A sample from manhole STS26 in the 

storm sewer approximately 320 ft from the Ballast Creek 

discharge contained PCE, TCE, and cDCE concentrations of 

0.69 (estimated), 4.26, and 2.53 μg/L, respectively, at low tide 

and concentrations of 1.06, 5.63, and 3.48 μg/L, respectively, 

1 hour after low tide. At 1 hour after low tide, water at manhole STS26 was moving in the storm sewer toward the creek. 

Because no additional storm-sewer pipes appear to enter the 

main storm sewer between STS26 and Ballast Creek, there is 

no additional dilution between STS26 and Ballast Creek, and 

the detected contaminant concentrations at STS26 represent 

VOC concentrations from Site 45 being discharged to Ballast Creek. Maximum detected VOC concentrations detected 

in storm-sewer water at STS26 during three sampling events 

(on two different dates) were 1.06 μg/L of PCE, 5.63 μg/L 

of TCE, 3.48 μg/L of cDCE, and less than 0.5 μg/L of VC 

(September 10, 2007, 1 hour after low tide) (table 3).

The above data indicate that the storm sewers function 

as discharge points for the major parts of both the northern 

and southern plumes. Part of the groundwater contamination 

may bypass some of the storm sewers below the water table; 

however, the bypassing concentrations are relatively low. 

Although substantial concentrations of VOCs are present in 

the groundwater near the storm sewers (more than 1,000 μg/L 

of TCE in the southern plume and more than 1,000 μg/L of 

cDCE in the northern plume), the groundwater that leaks into 

the storm sewers is subjected to dilution and volatilization 

effects that result in low concentrations of VOCs in water 
Transport and Fate of Chlorinated Solvents 31

from the sampled manholes (maximum detection of 387 μg/L 

of cDCE and 183 μg/L of TCE; table 3) and at the discharge 

point. Thus, the storm sewers appear to be preventing substantial additional expansion of the plumes and usually discharging relatively low concentrations of VOCs (less than about 

10 μg/L of total VOCs to Ballast Creek).

Finally, in an interview during this investigation, the 

Parris Island environmental officer who investigated the 1994 

solvent spill at the above-ground storage tanks stated that there 

was evidence that PCE may have entered the storm drains 

during this event (James Clark, Environmental Officer, Parris 

Island, oral commun., 2008). Because a substantial amount of 

PCE was released to the environment, PCE entering the storm 

drain would have been transported through the storm-sewer 

system. The most probable receptors would have been storm 

drains STS01 or STS16 (fig. 6). Both of these storm drains 

connect to the same storm sewer and ultimately discharge to 

the Ballast Creek tributary at STS27 (fig. 19). Few data are 

available on the nature of a historic storm sewer extending 

from beneath the former above-ground storage-tank area 

southeastward to storm grate STS08 (fig. 6) except that 

video imaging of that section of the sewer during this investigation showed it to be presently occluded by a concrete 

plug approximately 94 ft northeast of STS08. If the historic 

sewer line had been a receptor, then it would have connected 

to the same storm sewer that drains STS01 and STS16. 

The potential historical presence of free-phase PCE in 

the storm sewer is important for several reasons. The previously discussed leaky nature of parts of the storm sewer 

means that the dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) 

could have leaked from various parts of the storm sewer 

in route to the Ballast Creek discharge. If DNAPL was 

transported all the way to the Ballast Creek discharge point 

at STS27, then it likely would have sorbed to and sunk 

into the sediments not far from STS27. A reconnaissance 

survey of shallow sediment collected near the STS27 outfall 

during this investigation showed no detectable chlorinatedsolvent contamination at depths of 0.5 and 1 ft below the 

sediment surface (fig. 7); however, due to a laboratory 

error, the sediment sample from 1-ft depth at the outfall 

(PAI-SWSED1, June 17, 2008) had unusually high detection limits [32 to 81 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)]. Low 

concentrations of toluene were detected in sediment from 

PAI-SWSED1, 0.5 ft depth (estimated 0.67 mg/kg), and 

at PAI-SWSED3, 1.0 ft depth (3.96 mg/kg). The lack of 

detectable chlorinated-solvent contamination in the sediment does not eliminate the possibility of deeper contamination because reworking of the shallow sediment could have 

destroyed the shallow signature. Examination of deeper 

sediment and a search for potential PCE leaks from the 

storm sewer outside of Site 45 were beyond the scope of the 

present investigation. 

Historical contamination could have exited the storm 

sewer east of STS26 through the eastern storm sewer 

that now contains numerous collapse features (fig. 19). 

This eastern storm sewer and the storm sewer containing 

sewer-outfall point STS27 are now connected at manhole 

STS25. The connection at STS25 probably was made to facilitate drainage of the storm sewer that extended from approximately beneath the former temporary lodging parking lot to a 

tributary to Ballast Creek after the collapse features occluded 

the pipe near the outfall point. Evidence that the occlusions 

limit or prevent direct discharge from the eastern storm sewer 

to Ballast Creek can be seen in the directions of water flow in 

the sewers. During an outgoing tide, water drains into manhole 

STS25 (fig. 19) from both the northern and southern sections 

of the eastern storm sewer. Water then flows laterally to the 

western storm sewer and then moves southward toward Ballast Creek. The flow directions reverse during an incoming 

tide, with water moving from the western storm sewer through 

manhole STS25 and into both the northern and southern sections of the eastern storm sewer. Thus, it appears that there is 

no significant exit or entrance for the eastern storm sewer at 

Ballast Creek. 

Figure 19. Movement of dye tracer and arrival times in the storm 

sewer from Site 45 to the Ballast Creek tributary, Marine Corps Recruit 

Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, August 30, 2007.

Injected dye 12:51 

Dye appearance 12:53 

STS25:

Dye appearance 13:10

Dye appearance 

at STS26 13:45 

Dye appearance 

at outfall (STS27) 

 13:59 

Ballast Creek 

SITE 45 

Storm sewer 

Dye study in storm drain on 8/30/07 

High tide was at 10:39, Low tide at 16:55 

Eastern 

storm sewer

apparently occluded

Numerous 

collapse features 

Western

storm sewer

0 250 500 1,000 Feet 
32 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

If the spill occurred during a period when the eastern 

and western storm drains were connected, then some level 

of contaminant could have been transported in the eastern 

storm drain. Such transport, however, seems less likely than 

transport in the storm sewer containing discharge point STS27 

because the storm sewer containing STS27 is more directly 

connected to the probable receptor drains for the spill and 

because of predominance of flow at the STS27 discharge point 

relative to the occluded sewers.

It is unlikely that substantial DNAPL from the original 

spill is still present in the storm sewers because of substantial 

flushing by daily tides and by rainfall events, including hurricanes. It also is unlikely that the VOCs detected during this 

investigation in the storm sewers are simply a measurement of 

remnant DNAPL because the presence of TCE, cDCE, and VC 

in the storm sewer indicates that the PCE has been degraded 

by reductive dechlorination (table 3), a process unlikely to 

occur in an aerobic storm sewer. In addition, the δ13C of 

PCE in water from manhole STS05 (–20.51 ‰) reflected a 

substantial amount of degradation relative to manufactured 

PCE (–27.0 to –37.2 ‰: van Warmerdam and others, 1995; 

Jendrejewski and others, 2001), but was similar to the δ13C 

of PCE in groundwater from nearby well PAI-45-MW20-SL 

(–20.8 ‰) (table 4). Thus, the chlorinated solvents presently in 

the storm-sewer water are from groundwater. 

Biodegradation

Several lines of evidence indicate the presence of VOC 

biodegradation in the aquifer at the southern plume. These data 

include microbial considerations, chlorinated-solvent parent/

daughter–product ratios, and stable carbon isotopes. Despite a 

substantial decrease in the total mass of chlorinated solvents 

from the upgradient source area near the new dry-cleaning 

facility to downgradient well PAI-45-MW20-SL, however, 

a substantial concentration of TCE (3,500–5,840 μg/L) is 

still present in the aquifer at well PAI-45-MW20-SL near a 

storm drain (STS05) known to be a recipient of groundwater 

contamination. Thus, biodegradation alone is not sufficient to 

decrease TCE concentrations to values less than milligramper-liter levels prior to discharge to the storm sewers.

Molecular analysis as part of this investigation indicated the presence of Dehalococcoides sp. and Dehalobacter

sp., which are microbes known to degrade chlorinated 

solvents (table 5). A variety of microorganisms are capable 

Table 4. Concentrations of compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis on water from wells and a storm sewer, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2007–2008.

[1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethylene; PCE, tetrachloroethylene; TCE, trichloroethylene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene; 

VC, vinyl chloride; DIC, dissolved inorganic carbon as carbon dioxide; R, laboratory rerun of a sample at a later date than the original analysis; D, duplicate 

sample; —, not analyzed or not reliable due to low concentrations; all concentrations are per mil units of the 13C/12C ratio from a reference standard of the 

Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite]

Site identifier Sample date 

(month/day/year) 1,1-DCE PCE TCE cDCE tDCE VC DIC

PAI-45-MW04-SL 8/25/2005 –36.60 –25.10 –29.20 –30.30 — — –12.0

PAI-45-MW20-SL 8/25/2005 –38.80 –20.80 –29.20 –30.30 — — –11.9

PAI-45-USGS-TW44 6/27/2007 –22.10 –26.01 –31.03 –30.76 –41.53 –22.57 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW39 6/27/2007 — –29.49 –30.19 –31.61 — –20.25 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW48 6/27/2007 –33.06 –27.22 –30.24 –29.79 –39.54 –19.21 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW48 R 6/27/2007 — — — –29.71 –39.70 –18.76 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW53 6/27/2007 –32.70 –26.16 –30.43 –30.56 –38.56 –18.22 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW53 D 6/27/2007 — –25.84 — –30.42 –37.39 –17.91 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW63 6/28/2007 –35.88 –26.07 –26.61 –33.82 –50.92 –6.17 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW63 R 6/28/2007 –35.22 — –26.52 –33.60 –50.65 –4.98 —

STS05 (storm sewer) 6/27/2007 — –20.51 –27.99 –31.03 — –20.25 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW3 6/25/2007 — — 5.64 –27.81 — –19.62 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW12 6/25/2007 — –15.39 –21.69 –27.50 — –23.37 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW12 R 6/25/2007 — –14.98 –21.26 –27.25 — –24.09 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW43 6/27/2007 — — –23.78 –28.60 — –3.07 —

PAI-45-MW25-SL 6/19/2008 — –29.16 –30.93 –32.71 — –22.58 —

PAI-45-MW31-SL 6/18/2008 — –25.51 –29.76 –30.35 — –21.41 —

PAI-45-MW31-SU 6/18/2008 — –25.55 –29.32 –29.76 — –24.11 —
Transport and Fate of Chlorinated

Solvents33

Table 5. Molecular analysis of phylogenic groups and functional genes in groundwater samples from the southern plume at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2006.[DNA, deoxyribose nucleic acid; RNA, ribonucleic acid; 16s rRNA, 16S ribosomal RNA; mRNA, messenger RNA; BVC, vinyl chloride reductase associated with Dehalococcoides sp. Strain BAV1; DSR, sulfatereducing bacteria; sMMO, methane monooxygenase; TceA, trichloroethene reductase; VcrA, vinyl chloride reductase; c/mL, cells per milliliter; <, less than; —, data not collected; gc/mL, gene copies per milliliter; E, scientific notation; J, estimated value]

Well identifier

Date 

(month/

day/

year)

DNA or 

RNA Units

Phylogenic groups Functional genes

Percent 

recovery

DNA or 16s rRNA DNA or mRNA

Eubacteria Dehalo- bacter sp. Dehalo- coccoides sp. Methano- genic bacteria Desulfuro- monas sp. Type 1 methano- trophic bacteria Type 2 methano- trophic bacteria BVC DSR sMMO TceA VcrA

PAI-45-MW04-SL 8/25/2005 RNA gc/mL 3.59E+07 5.38E+04 2.30E+03 <1.00E+00 <1.00E+00 1.05E+08 1.22E+05 <5E–01 9.69E+06 4.43E+06 <5E–01 <5E–01 —

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/28/2006 RNA gc/mL 5.66E+05 8.35E+00 4.07E+01 — — — — <5E–01 — — <5E–01 <5E–01 65.53

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/28/2006 RNA gc/mL 2.27E+04 — 6.64E+01 — — — — <5E–01 — — <5E–01 <5E–01 98.24

PAI-45-MW04-SL 10/10/2006 DNA c/mL 8.29E+05 2.34E+03 1.14E+05 — — — — 6.67E–03(J) — — <5E–01 1.18E+05 98.72

PAI-45-MW04-SL 10/10/2006 RNA gc/mL 3.97E+05 <1E+0 <5E–01 — — — — <5E–01 — — <5E–01 <5E–01 42.03

PAI-45-MW20-SL 8/25/2005 RNA gc/mL 2.09E+07 3.68E+04 6.40E+02 <1.00E+00 4.16E+00 9.25E+07 3.73E+04 <5E–01 1.38E+07 3.08E+06 <5E–01 <5E–01 —

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/26/2006 DNA c/mL 1.85E+06 1.09E+02 2.88E+02 — — — — 4.47E–02(J) — — <5E–01 <5E–01 76.48

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/26/2006 RNA gc/mL 7.32E+02 — <5E–01 — — — — <5E–01 — — <5E–01 <5E–01 38.18

PAI-45-MW20-SL 10/10/2006 DNA c/mL 2.12E+06 2.18E+03 1.22E+02 — — — — 2.23E–01(J) — — <5E–01 <5E–01 71.99

PAI-45-MW20-SL 10/10/2006 RNA gc/mL 2.89E+05 3.37E+00 <5E–01 — — — — <5E–01 — — <5E-01 <5E–01 36.38

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/26/2006 DNA c/mL 1.11E+06 1.23E+01 1.47E+04 — — — — 2.53E+01 — — 5.37E+00 7.36E–01 93.43

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/26/2006 RNA gc/mL 2.33E+04 — 1.61E+04 — — — — <5E–01 — — <5E–01 1.3E–02J 47.01

PAI-45-MW20-SU 10/10/2006 DNA c/mL 2.15E+06 4.61E+03 7.01E+02 — — — — 6.30E–1 — — 2.05E–01 <5E–01 58.53

PAI-45-MW20-SU 10/10/2006 RNA gc/mL 1.98E+05 4.78E+00 <5E–01 — — — — <5E–01 — — <5E–01 <5E–01 62.22
34 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

of dechlorinating PCE and TCE; however, only microorganisms associated with the genus Dehalococcoides are known 

to dehalorespire cDCE and VC to ethylene (Hendrickson and 

others, 2002; Cupples and others, 2003; He and others, 2003a, 

2003b; Schmidt and de Vos, 2004). The species Dehalococcoides etheneogenes is capable of complete sequential dechlorination of PCE to ethylene (Maymo-Gatell and others, 1999). 

Dehalobacter sp. also has been identified as bacteria associated with dechlorination of chloroethenes (Holliger and others, 

1998; Maymo-Gatell and others, 1997). In nature, anaerobic 

dechlorination typically is carried out by mixed cultures of 

dechlorinators (Bradley, 2003), and complete dechlorination 

of PCE to ethylene has been observed in a mixed culture that 

did not contain the Dehalococcoides sp. (Flynn and others, 

2000). Thus, the absence of Dehalococcoides sp. and Dehalobacter sp. does not necessarily preclude complete dechlorination. Their presence in groundwater at Site 45, however, 

indicates a strong probability of microbial dechlorination of 

the contamination. 

In areas where the dominant driver of biodegradation is 

Dehalococcoides sp., the rate of biodegradation appears to be 

related to the cell density. Dennis (2005) detected ethylene 

production from dechlorination in 78 percent of the groundwater samples where the density of Dehalococcoides sp. was 

between 1 × 104

 and 9.9 × 105 cells per liter and in 83 percent 

of the samples where the density was between 1 × 106

 and 

9.9 × 107

 cells per liter. In general, a density of 1 × 107 cells 

per liter is considered to be necessary to produce a useful rate 

of natural attenuation (Lu and others, 2006; Dennis, 2009). At 

Site 45, multiple groundwater samples contained Dehalococcoides sp. at greater than 104

 cells per milliliter (107 cells per 

liter), indicating that sufficient quantities of Dehalococcoides

sp. are present to produce robust biodegradation of chlorinated 

solvents to ethylene. 

An additional way to examine microbial activity in 

groundwater is to examine enzymes. The enzymes responsible 

for reductive dehalogenation in Dehalococcoides are reductive dehalogenases, or reductases (Krajmalnik-Brown and 

others, 2004). Microbial analysis of enzymes in groundwater 

from the southern plume showed the presence of BVC, which 

is the functional gene of vinyl chloride reductase associated 

with Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1 (table 5). The reductase 

gene (bvcA) in Dehalococcoides strain BAV1 grows using all 

dichloroethene (DCE) isomers and VC as electron acceptors 

and cometabolizes PCE and TCE, efficiently converting these 

compounds to ethylene and inorganic chloride (He and others 

2003b; Krajmalnik-Brown and others, 2004). 

The reductase associated with VC degradation in Dehalococcoides strain VS and other strains is VcrA (Magnuson and 

others, 2000; Muller and others, 2004). VcrA was detected in 

groundwater from wells PAI-45-MW4-SL and PAI-45-MW20-

SU in the southern plume during some sampling events 

(table 5). The reductase responsible for trichloroethene reduction is TceA in Dehalococcoides strain 195 and other strains. 

TceA was detected in DNA in groundwater in the southern 

plume at well PAI-45-MW20-SU during one sampling event. 

The presence of these enzymes supports the finding that 

microbial degradation of the chlorinated solvents is occurring 

in the southern plume.

The pH of water in the surficial aquifer containing greater 

than 1 micromole per liter of chlorinated solvents averaged 

5.77 pH units (standard deviation of 0.32) in monitoring wells 

and 6.03 pH units (standard deviation of 0.25) in temporary 

wells. In general, maximum microbial reductive dechlorination has been observed between pH values of about 6.8 to 7.6 

with diminished reduction at lower pH values (Hollinger and 

others, 1993; Zhuang and Pavlostathis, 1995; Wiedemeier 

and others, 1996; Cirpka and others, 1999; Fennell and Gossett, 2003). Although the pH in contaminated groundwater at 

Site 45 is slightly below the optimum level, the presence of 

chlorinated-solvent reductive dechlorination daughter products 

indicates that the pH is not low enough to prohibit reductive 

dechlorination. Reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents in a low-pH environment (2–4 range) has been reported 

elsewhere in a Fenton’s reagent treatment area (Bradley and 

others, 2007).

Contaminant Concentration Changes in the 

Direction of Transport

Total chlorinated-solvent concentrations decrease in the 

southern plume along the transport path from the source area 

to well PAI-45-MW04-SL (fig. 20A). A variety of lines of evidence in addition to the previously discussed microbial consideration indicate that the decrease is partly due to contaminant 

biodegradation.

PCE is degrading to TCE in the southern plume. The 

PCE concentrations substantially decrease from upgradient to 

downgradient areas (fig. 20B). The PCE/TCE ratio decreases 

from PAI-45-MW25-SL to PAI-45-MW31-SL to PAI-45-

MW04-SL, indicating a decrease of PCE relative to TCE 

(fig. 20C). In general, the upgradient parts of the southern 

plume tend to be dominated by PCE, while more downgradient parts of the plume tend to be dominated by TCE or cDCE 

reflecting dechlorination activity (fig. 21). In addition, the δ13C 

of PCE in groundwater indicates a shift from isotopically light 

(negative) to isotopically heavier (more positive) from the 

source area to well PAI-45-MW20-SL (fig. 20D), indicating 

a depletion in the PCE mass of the more readily degradable, 

lighter isotopes. 

Although PCE is the dominant VOC in the source area 

at the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning facility, the 

presence of TCE indicates some degree of near-source-area 

PCE degradation. Additional evidence indicating PCE degradation near the source area can be seen in the δ13C data. The 

δ13C of manufactured PCE can vary depending on the manufacturer and the timeframe of production, with values ranging 

from –27.0 to –37.2 ‰ (Jendrejewski and others, 2001; van 

Warmerdam and others, 1995). These values are consistent 

with the δ13C of PCE in the source area at well PAI-45-MW5-SL (–29.16 ‰) and in temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW39 

(–29.49 ‰), approximately 30 ft downgradient from the 
Transport and Fate of Chlorinated Solvents 35

Figure 20. (A) Total chlorinated solvents, (B) individual chlorinated solvents, (C) parent/daughter ratios, 

and (D) compound-specific stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) in wells along the axis of contamination in the 

southern plume, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, September 2008, 

unless otherwise noted.

PCE

cDCE

TCE

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

PCE concentration, 

in micrograms per liter

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

TCE and cDCE concentrations,

in micrograms per liter

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

VC concentrations,

50

in micrograms per liter

100

150

200

250

300

PAI-45-MW25-SLPAI-45-MW31-SL

PAI-45-MW04-SLPAI-45-MW20-SL

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Sum of PCE, 

TCE, cDCE, and VC,

in micromoles per liter

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

PCE/TCE and 

TCE/cDCE 

molar ratios

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

cDCE/VC molar ratios

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

Feet from source area

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

13C, in per mil 

-34

-32

-30

-28

-26

-24

-22

-20

Jun. 08

Various dates Jun. 08

Aug. 05

Aug. 05

A.

B.

C.

D.

PCE/TCE

TCE/cDCE

cDCE/VC

Explanation for 

figure C

PCE

TCE

cDCE

VC

Explanation for 

figures B and D

Northwest Southeast

PCE: tetrachloroethene

cDCE: cis -1,2-dichloroethene

VC: vinyl chloride

TCE: trichloroethene

A A’

See gure 3

for location of

the line of section
36 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Northern 

Plume 

Southern Plume 

New Dry Cleaner 

Samoa Street 

Former Temporary Lodging 

(Removed) 

Building 293 

Panama Street 

Kyushu Street 

Former Dry Cleaner 

(Removed) 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E 

E E 

E 

E 

E E 

E E E 

E 

E E 

E 

E 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k 

k k 

k 

USGS temporary well sampled June 2007 to 

March 2008

Monitoring well sampled July 2007 to June 2008

Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., temporary well sampled

2006 (Mark Sladic, Tetra Tech NUS, Inc.,

written commun., 2007)

Storm sewer 

Sanitary sewer 

E

E

k

Greater than 100 micromoles per liter 

31-100 micromoles per liter 

0.5-30 micromoles per liter 

Concentration of total PCE + TCE + cDCE + VC. 

cDCE

TCE PCE 

VC 

Symbols 

without 

pie diagram 

Less than 0.5 micromole per liter

EXPLANATION 

Approximate

boundary of

groundwater

contamination

0 50 100 25 Feet 

0 5 10 15 20 Meters 

Figure 21. Relative molar percentage of tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), and vinyl 

chloride (VC) in groundwater from monitoring wells and selected temporary wells representing multiple sampling events, Site 45,

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008.
Transport and Fate of Chlorinated Solvents 37

source area (table 4), possibly indicating little degradation or 

proximity to free product (Morrill and others, 2003). In temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW44, which is nearer to the source 

area than PAI-45-USGS-TW30, the δ13C of PCE in groundwater was substantially enriched (–26.01 ‰), indicating 

dechlorination of the PCE. This temporary well also contained 

a substantially higher VC concentration (201 μg/L; figs. 4 

and 15) than in nearby wells, further attesting to dechlorination activity. Thus, there is sufficient dechlorination activity 

to produce VC in parts of the surficial aquifer near the source 

area at the southeastern corner of the new dry-cleaning facility.

There also is evidence that TCE is dechlorinating to 

cDCE in groundwater in the southern plume. The most compelling evidence is the sharp decrease in the TCE/cDCE ratio 

between the source area and mid-plume well PAI-45-MW31-

SL (fig. 20C), despite the observation that the TCE concentration increased over that interval. The change in ratio indicates 

a gain of cDCE relative to TCE. 

Direct evidence indicating TCE biodegradation between 

the midpart of the southern plume at well PAI-45-MW31-

SL and the downgradient axis of the plume at well PAI-45-

MW20-SL is limited because there is almost no change in 

the TCE/cDCE ratio or in the δ13C of TCE in this part of the 

plume (figs. 20C and 20D), despite a slight decrease in TCE 

concentration (about 25–35 percent). TCE biodegradation, 

however, can occur under all anaerobic conditions; it occurs 

most efficiently under sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions (Yang and McCarty, 1998; Bradley, 2003). Because the 

aquifer is anaerobic and the most contaminated part probably 

is dominated by sulfate-reducing conditions with probable 

pockets of methanogenesis, the TEAP conditions are conducive to TCE degradation. 

Because H2

 appears to be the most important donor for 

anaerobic dechlorination of chlorinated VOCs (Fennell and 

Gossett, 1998), the competition between sulfate-reducing 

bacteria (SRB) and chlorinated-VOC-degrading bacteria has 

the potential to limit dechlorination activity; however, in one 

laboratory study of microcosms containing Dehalococcoides 

sp., high sulfate concentrations (400 to 1,100 mg/L) under 

limiting electron donor conditions significantly inhibited TCE 

reduction, but had a negligible effect at 30 mg/L compared 

to the zero-sulfate case (Panagiotakis and others, 2008). At 

the comparatively low sulfate concentrations in the southern plume (about 23 to 143 mg/L), sulfate is not expected to 

inhibit dechlorination activity.

Thus, it is likely that TCE dechlorination to cDCE is taking place in the downgradient part of the southern plume. The 

relative lack of degradation signature in the TCE/cDCE ratio 

or in the δ13C of TCE may be due to a combination of simultaneous production and degradation of TCE, the relatively 

small δ13C fractionation factor associated with TCE to cDCE 

degradation (Song and others, 2002), and slow degradation 

rates associated with natural attenuation. 

It is clear that some level of cDCE dechlorination takes 

place in the aquifer simply because of the presence of VC, a 

daughter product of cDCE reduction. VC is more concentrated 

in the central part of the southern plume near well PAI-45-

MW31-SL (about 120 to 420 μg/L) than in most wells near 

the source area (about 5 to 50 μg/L) (figs. 15 and 20B). This 

indicates that production of VC by dechlorination of cDCE 

takes place as the contamination is transported, at least in 

the upgradient half of the plume. An exception is temporary 

well PAI-45-USGS-TW44 near the new dry cleaner that had 

201 μg/L of VC in groundwater, indicating that substantial 

dechlorination has taken place in at least some parts of the 

aquifer in or near the source area. 

Reduction of VOCs under the iron- and sulfate-reducing 

conditions that appear to prevail in the aquifer at Site 45 is 

substantially less favorable for VC than for PCE and TCE. VC 

dechlorination can take place under these conditions, however, and has taken place at Site 45, as evidenced by elevated 

ethylene concentrations (13–150 μg/L) in groundwater along 

the axis of the southern plume relative to groundwater in wells 

outside of the main axis of the plume (less than 10 μg/L at 

most wells). Oxidation of VC under iron- and sulfate-reducing 

conditions is more favorable than reduction and probably is 

taking place in the aquifer at Site 45. The increases in δ13C for 

VC from –22.57 ‰ at temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW44 

to –18.76 to –19.21 ‰ at PAI-45-USGS-TW48 and –17.91 to 

–18.22 ‰ at PAI-45-USGS-TW53 indicate biodegradation of 

VC as it is transported along the flowpath (table 4). Further 

evidence for VC biodegradation can be seen at temporary well 

PAI-45-USGS-TW63, where only a small amount of VC was 

present (estimated 30 μg/L) and the δ13C was enriched (–4.98 

to –6.17 ‰). The isotopic fractionation of VC during biodegradation can be larger than the fractionation of its parent 

compounds because the fractionation factor for VC is larger 

than for the parent compounds (Hunkeler and others, 1999; 

Bloom and others, 2000; Slater and others, 2001) and because 

while TCE and cDCE are being biodegraded, they also may be 

produced by reductive dehalogenation of parent compounds.

Supporting evidence for VC degradation can be seen in 

the fact that cDCE/VC ratios substantially increase along the 

transport pathway in the southern plume (fig. 20D). Based 

on the isotopic evidence for VC degradation, the increase in 

cDCE/VC ratios probably reflects VC degradation.

Although this investigation mostly focused on the 

southern plume, part of the northern plume approximately 

100 to 160 ft downgradient from the tank-spill area also was 

investigated using temporary wells. In some of those wells, 

VC constituted a larger percentage of the VOC contamination 

than in the southern plume, indicating a more advanced state 

of degradation. The difference between the chemistry in the 

northern and southern plumes may be partly because the northern plume has been the focus of a variety of treatment pilot 

studies. An air-sparging pilot study took place in the northern 

plume in December 1996 (Bechtel Environmental, Inc., 1997). 

A groundwater pump-and-treat system was in operation from 

1998 to 2000, removing an estimated 1,056,410 gallons of 

water from the northern plume (Tetra Tech NUS, Inc., 2004). 

Emulsified zero-valent iron was injected into the aquifer as a 

treatment in the vicinity of the former above-ground storage 
38 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

tanks in late 2006 (Suzanne O’Hara, Geosyntec Consultants, 

written commun., 2008). In contrast, the southern plume has 

not yet been subjected to engineered remediation. The larger 

amount of VC in the northern plume than in the southern 

plume also may be a consequence of probable historic releases 

of petroleum-based solvents at the former dry cleaning facility 

(S&ME, Inc., 1994), which could have produced highly reducing conditions conducive to enhanced VC production in parts 

of what is now the northern plume.

Other Influences

Some degree of sorption of the VOCs is expected to take 

place in the aquifer. In temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW96, 

the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration in a composite 

sediment sample was 440 mg/kg (0.044 fraction organic carbon [foc] as percent) at a depth of 8–10 ft and was 2,120 mg/kg 

(0.212 foc) at a depth of 12–13 ft (table 6). These values are 

consistent with TOC analyses of sediment from the southern 

plume collected by the USEPA for a separate investigation 

(Scott Huling, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, written 

commun., 2009). 

The distribution coefficient between water and sediment 

(Kd

) can be calculated from the equation Kd = Koc × foc, where 

Koc is the organic carbon sorption coefficient. For PCE, which 

has a log Koc of about 2.42 (Solutions IES, Inc., and others, 

2007), these values produce distribution coefficient between 

water and sediment (Kd

) of about 0.11–0.56. For TCE (log 

Koc of about 2.03, Solutions IES, Inc., and others, 2007), the 

calculated Kd is 0.04–0.23. For cDCE (log Koc of about 1.65, 

Solutions IES, Inc., and others, 2007), the calculated Kd

 is 

about 0.02–0.06. For VC (log Koc of about 1.23, Solutions IES, 

Inc., and others, 2007), the calculated Kd

 is about 0.007–0.036. 

The Kd

 values can be used to calculate a retardation 

coefficient {1+ [(bulk density)(Kd

)]/porosity} for a range of 

porosities from 0.25 to 0.45 (Freeze and Cherry, 1979). Using 

an estimated bulk density of 1.65 grams per cubic centimeter 

(Mercer and others, 1982), the calculated retardation factors are about 1.4–4.7 for PCE, 1.2–2.5 for TCE, 1.1–1.6 for 

cDCE, and 1.0–1.2 for VC. Thus, PCE has the potential to 

travel 1.4–4.7 times more slowly than water in the aquifer due 

to sorption, whereas VC is subject to little or no sorption. 

Dispersion is an additional factor affecting contaminant 

concentrations. Dispersion of contamination in the southern 

plume may be somewhat enhanced by tidal fluctuations and 

diversion of flow paths toward multiple leaking storm drains. 

Summary and Conclusions

Site 45 is a former dry-cleaning facility and the surrounding area near the intersections of Panama Street, Samoa Street, 

and Kyushu Street. The area includes a new dry-cleaning 

facility. Groundwater contamination is present at the site, consisting primarily of PCE, TCE, cDCE, and VC. Two plumes of 

groundwater contamination are present, probably with some 

degree of intermingling in downgradient areas. The northern 

plume consists of groundwater contamination in the vicinity of 

and downgradient (southeast) from an area of former aboveground storage tanks north of the former dry-cleaning facility. 

The southern plume consists of groundwater contamination 

extending southeastward from the southeastern corner of the 

new dry-cleaning facility to about the intersection of Samoa 

Street and the driveway into the parking lot for Building 293. 

The USGS, in cooperation with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, began investigations at the site 

to (1) examine the role that sewer lines play in contaminant 

source, distribution, attenuation, and transport in both the 

northern and southern plumes; (2) further delineate contamination in the southern plume; and (3) examine natural attenuation aspects of groundwater contamination in the southern 

plume. The investigation involved examination of historical 

records and engineering drawings of buildings, video imaging 

of storm sewers, water-level monitoring by synoptic measurements in wells and by use of continuous data loggers, installation and sampling of temporary wells, sampling of wells, 

storm sewers, surface water, and sediment, and the use of 

an MIP.

The northern plume appears to have originated from 

releases of PCE from the former dry-cleaning facility operation, including a documented spill on March 11, 1994. This 

spill also resulted in discharge of free-phase PCE into the 

storm-sewer system. Once in the storm-sewer system, the 

free-phase PCE probably was transported to a discharge point 

Table 6. Concentrations of total organic carbon in soil borings, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008.

[ft BLS, feet below land surface; mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram]

Site identifier Date 

(month/day/year)

Depth 

(ft BLS)

Total organic 

carbon 

(mg/kg)

Lithology

PAI-45-MW26-SL 6/27/2008 10–15 128 Sand, fine-grained 

PAI-45-MW28-D 8/26/2008 18 155,000 Clay, organic-rich

PAI-45-USGS-TW96 4/30/2008 8–10 440 Sand, grayish-tan, fine-grained, loose

PAI-45-USGS-TW96 4/30/2008 12–13 2,120 Sand, black fine-grained
Summary and Conclusions 39

near Ballast Creek. Some PCE also may have leaked from the 

storm sewer along the way.

In late 1997, the dry-cleaning operations were moved 

to a nearby new facility, and the new operation used a 

hydrocarbon-based cleaner that did not contain chlorinated 

solvents. Nevertheless, investigations identified a southern 

plume, which appeared to originate in the vicinity of the new 

dry-cleaning facility. The present investigation, however, indicates that the southern plume was associated with activities at 

the former dry-cleaning facility.

The unconfined surficial aquifer at Site 45 consists of 

sand interspersed with discontinuous beds of clay, silty clay, 

silty clayey sand, and clayey silt and extends to a depth of 

about 18 ft BLS. Monitoring wells in this undifferentiated 

zone are referred to as SU wells if they are screened predominantly shallower than about 11 ft BLS and are referred to 

as SL wells if they are screened predominantly deeper than 

about 10 ft BLS. A peat layer, which is a few feet thick, has 

been reported at depths of about 17 to 27 ft BLS overlying a 

clay layer of variable thickness (possibly about 2 to 8 ft) that 

functions as a confining bed. The part of the aquifer below this 

clay is considered to be the D horizon. 

Groundwater in the surficial aquifer moves in a generally southeastward direction with strong curvature of flow 

lines toward some of the storm sewers that are deeper than 

the water table. The groundwater surface in the D-horizon 

wells was comparatively flat-lying, with an overall trend 

toward the southeast. The most permeable part of the surficial 

aquifer near the new dry-cleaning facility and the midpart of 

the southern plume probably is the loose sand unit, which is 

at a depth of about 6–11.4 ft BLS at well PAI-45-MW28-D 

and at a depth of about 8–10 ft BLS at temporary well 

PAI-45-USGS-TW96.

The surfical aquifer at Site 45 is anaerobic at most locations, with the predominant TEAP being iron reduction in the 

shallowest sediment. In deeper sediment containing the main 

body of contamination, the predominant TEAP appears to be 

sulfate or iron reduction; however, the presence of methane, 

the high degree of contaminant dechlorination, and an H2

value (31 nM) in the range of methanogenesis at one well 

indicates that methanogenic zones probably also are present. 

In the deepest part of the surficial aquifer, near the peat layer, 

the predominant TEAP probably is methanogenesis, by virtue 

of the abundant available natural organic matter. 

Storm sewers that are below the water table appear to 

have an important influence on groundwater and contaminant 

movement. The curvature of groundwater flow lines toward 

the storm sewers and the presence of chlorinated solvents in 

water from the storm sewers indicate some level of leakage 

from the contaminated aquifer into the storm sewers. Although 

there is some contaminant underflow past the storm sewers in 

the southern plume and possibly in the southernmost part of 

the northern plume, leakage into the storm sewers appears to 

intercept and contain the main body of groundwater contamination in both plumes. Thus, the storm sewers are collection 

points for the dissolved groundwater contamination. 

Most of the groundwater contamination near the new 

dry-cleaning facility is present from a few feet BLS to about 

11.5 ft BLS. Within that interval, most of the contamination is at a depth of about 8 to 11.5 ft BLS, with the greatest 

concentrations near the bottom of that interval. In the middle 

part of the southern plume at temporary well PAI-45-USGSTW96, the most contaminated zone appears to be in a loose 

sand layer about 8 to 11 ft BLS, although relatively high 

VOC concentrations also were found to a depth of about 14 ft 

BLS. The VOC concentrations at temporary well PAI-45-

USGS-TW96 decreased with depth below about 13 ft BLS 

and were not detectable (less than 0.2 parts per million) at 

depths of 14–14.8 ft directly above the organic-rich layer and 

at 15.2–16 ft in the organic-rich layer. The less porous nature 

of the organic-rich silt layer relative to the overlying sand and 

the downward decrease in VOC concentrations in sediment 

immediately above the organic-rich silt layer indicates that 

the organic-rich layer is not a major contaminant-transport 

pathway at well PAI-45-USGS-TW96. 

Although it cannot be stated with certainty that no VOC 

contamination is in the brackish-water D horizon underlying the clay that defines the base of the surficial unit, such 

contamination is unlikely for several reasons. The uncertainty 

arises because the wells in the D horizon were installed 

slightly offset from the main body of contamination in the 

surfical aquifer so as to avoid the risk of inadvertent transport of possible free product from the surficial to the deeper 

aquifer during drilling and because groundwater levels in the 

D-horizon wells are lower than the levels in the surficial aquifer. Thus, if there were a discontinuity in the clay layer, it is 

likely that there would be downward flow from the surficial to 

the deeper aquifers. It seems unlikely that there is contamination in the D-horizon aquifer also because (1) no VOCs were 

detected in any of the D wells despite the fact that at least well 

PAI-45-MW28-D was near the main body of contamination; 

(2) substantially lower VOC concentrations were detected near 

the base of the surficial aquifer than in the vertical midpart of 

the surficial aquifer, indicating a low potential for downward 

transport through the base of the surficial aquifer; and (3) the 

organic-rich peat at the base of the surficial aquifer provides a 

substantial sorptive buffer for VOCs. 

Although the southern plume spatially originates from the 

new dry-cleaning facility, the new dry-cleaning facility is not 

likely the source of the contamination. Engineering blueprints, 

flow testing, and video imaging of sanitary sewers at the site, 

as well as the lack of a viable contaminant source at the new 

dry-cleaning facility, indicate that the contaminant source in 

the southern plume was a leak from a sanitary sewer in the 

vicinity of the new dry-cleaning facility. 

Once in the aquifer, contamination in both the northern 

and southern plumes is transported southeastward, where 

most of the dissolved contamination is intercepted by leaky 

storm sewers. Because the storm sewers at Site 45 range in 

diameter from 12 to 36 inches and a tidal change of greater 

than 3 ft takes place in some of the storm sewers at Site 45, the 

VOCs entering the storm sewers are substantially diluted upon 
40 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

entry. Volatilization probably also removes some of the VOC 

contamination in the storm sewers. During outgoing tides, 

the diluted contamination in the storm sewer is transported 

southward and discharges to Ballast Creek. A sample from 

a manhole STS26 in the storm sewer approximately 320 ft 

from the Ballast Creek discharge contained PCE, TCE, and 

cDCE concentrations of 0.69 (estimated), 4.26, and 2.53 μg/L, 

respectively, at low tide and concentrations of 1.06, 5.63, and 

3.48 μg/L, respectively, 1 hour after low tide. No chlorinatedsolvent contamination was detected in shallow sediment 

samples in the vicinity of the outfall to Ballast Creek; however, due to a laboratory error, the sediment sample from 1-ft 

depth at the outfall (PAI-SWSED1, June 17, 2008) had unusually high detection limits (32 to 81 mg/kg). 

Despite the low VOC concentrations discharging to 

Ballast Creek, increases in VOC concentrations potentially 

are possible in the storm sewers during a time of relatively 

high groundwater levels and low amounts of tidal flushing. 

Water from manhole STS14 contained 20 μg/L of VC at a time 

of relatively high groundwater levels (September 9, 2008). 

Because manhole STS14 is downstream from the contaminant source along a storm-sewer line that is adjacent to part 

of the aquifer where 2,290 μg/L of VC was detected (June 25, 

2007), there is a potential for substantially increased concentrations of VC to discharge at the storm-sewer outfall under 

conditions of high groundwater levels and low tidal flushing. 

In addition, the observation that free-phase PCE may have 

entered the storm-sewer system during the 1994 overflow 

means that DNAPL PCE could have leaked from various parts 

of the storm sewer in route to the Ballast Creek discharge. If 

the DNAPL was transported all the way to the Ballast Creek 

discharge point at STS27, then it likely would have sorbed to 

and sunk into the sediments not far from STS27.

Contaminant concentrations in the aquifer are subject to 

several influences. Microbes known to degrade chlorinated 

solvents and enzymes associated with dechlorination are 

present in the aquifer. The total mass of chlorinated solvents 

decreases from upgradient to downgradient parts of the 

southern plume. Parent/daughter–product ratios, stable carbon 

isotopes, the presence of VC, and higher ethylene concentrations in groundwater along the axis of the southern plume 

relative to nearby wells indicate extensive dechlorination 

activity. Oxidation of VC likely is taking place in the aquifer 

along the southern plume, based on the probable presence of 

sulfate reduction. Some degree of sorption of the VOCs is 

expected to take place in the aquifer, with the largest influence 

being on PCE. Dispersion also may decrease concentrations 

along the transport pathway. Although biodegradation and 

other attenuation processes are active in the southern plume, 

the processes are not sufficient to lower TCE concentrations 

to less than milligram-per-liter levels prior to intercepting the 

storm-sewer system.

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Appendixes 1–14

1. Monitoring-well information, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina ....................................................................................................46

2. Temporary-well information, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina ....................................................................................................48

3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in monitoring wells, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008............................51

4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved gases, and 

total organic carbon in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008 .....................................................55

5. Concentrations of field-measured constituents in groundwater 

from monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008................................................................................59

6. Concentrations of groundwater constituents in temporary wells, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008............................61

7. Concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in soil borings from 

temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW7, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, 2008...................................................................................................................66

8. Concentrations of total organic carbon in soil borings, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008 ...............................................................67

9. Concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in surface water 

near the outfall to Ballast Creek, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, June 17, 2008 ..........................................................................67

10. Concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in sediment 

near the outfall to Ballast Creek, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit 

Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, June 17, 2008 .............................................................68

11. Synoptic water-level measurements at approximately low tide 

in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, 2007–2008................................................................................69

12. Lithologic logs for permanent wells at site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008 ..........................................................................................71

13. Lithologic log for temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW96, Site 45, Marine Corps 

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, April 30, 2008................................................73

14. Membrane Interface Probe logs, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, June 22, 2008, for boring—

 MIP1..............................................................................................................................................74

 MIP2..............................................................................................................................................75

 MIP3..............................................................................................................................................76

 MIP4..............................................................................................................................................77

 MIP5..............................................................................................................................................78

 MIP6..............................................................................................................................................79

 MIP7..............................................................................................................................................80
46 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 1. Monitoring-well information, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.—Continued

[NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988]

Site identifier

Well 

diameter 

(inches)

Depth to 

top of 

screen 

(feet 

below 

land 

surface)

Depth to 

bottom of 

screen 

(feet 

below 

land 

surface)

Northing Easting

Top of riser 

datum 

NAVD 88 

(Surveyed by 

Andrews and 

Burgess, Inc., 

in 2008)

Surveyor and date 

(month/day/year) 

of survey for 

Northing and Easting

PAI-45-MW01-D 2 30 40 187465.456 2099311.961 6.60 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW01-SL 2 11.6 14 187466.139 2099316.097 6.52 Doolan, Inc., 2005 (month and day 

unvailable)

PAI-45-MW01-SU 2 3 7 187467.026 2099306.621 6.54 Doolan, Inc., 2005 (month and day 

unvailable)

PAI-45-MW02-SL 2 9 14 187351.015 2099211.018 6.22 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW02-SU 2 3 7 187354.829 2099212.934 6.12 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW03-SL 2 9 14 187268.683 2099249.515 6.54 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW03-SU 2 3 7 187267.674 2099253.593 6.59 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW04-D 2 31 41 187166.810 2099265.215 5.78 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW04-SL 2 9 14 187159.374 2099262.953 5.91 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW04-SU 2 3 7 187160.950 2099259.013 5.93 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW05-D 2 34 44 187197.820 2099386.421 7.63 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW05-SL 2 9 14 187202.721 2099386.456 7.24 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW05-SU 2 3 7 187197.962 2099386.971 7.59 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW06-D 2 30 40 187282.019 2099309.350 6.44 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW06-SL 2 9 14 187287.357 2099305.627 6.48 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW06-SU 2 3 7 187283.229 2099304.531 6.52 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW07-D 2 30 40 187339.823 2099306.986 6.63 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW07-SL 2 9 14 187338.979 2099302.924 6.68 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW07-SU 2 3 7 187336.809 2099304.945 6.63 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW08-SL 2 9 14 187401.386 2099328.184 6.50 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW08-SU 2 3 7 187397.064 2099327.899 6.57 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW09-D 2 31 41 187100.747 2099353.889 6.24 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW10-D 2 31 41 187415.892 2099229.520 6.25 Data from Mark Sladic, Tetra Tech 

NUS, Inc., written commun., 2008

PAI-45-MW10-SL 2 11 16 187227.568 2099257.425 5.85 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 3/26/08 

PAI-45-MW10-SU 2 3 8 187226.768 2099261.530 5.90 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW11-D 2 31 41 187188.732 2099166.370 5.43 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/16/08 

PAI-45-MW13-SL 2 11 16 187190.163 2099307.653 6.39 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW13-SU 2 4 9 187184.776 2099306.465 6.48 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW14-SL 2 10 15 187334.096 2099445.045 5.76 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW14-SU 2 4 9 187338.682 2099445.653 5.84 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW15-SL 2 13 18 187265.544 2099457.147 8.13 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW15-SU 2 4 9 187266.012 2099452.700 8.32 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 
Appendix 1 47

Appendix 1. Monitoring-well information, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.—Continued

[NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988]

Site identifier

Well 

diameter 

(inches)

Depth to 

top of 

screen 

(feet 

below 

land 

surface)

Depth to 

bottom of 

screen 

(feet 

below 

land 

surface)

Northing Easting

Top of riser 

datum 

NAVD 88 

(Surveyed by 

Andrews and 

Burgess, Inc., 

in 2008)

Surveyor and date 

(month/day/year) 

of survey for 

Northing and Easting

PAI-45-MW16-SL 2 13 18 187234.892 2099433.936 9.17 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW16-SU 2 4 9 187234.935 2099429.243 9.14 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW17-SL 2 10 15 187067.734 2099344.179 5.96 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW17-SU 2 4 9 187075.099 2099346.330 6.17 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW18-SL 2 11 16 187107.267 2099205.285 6.98 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW18-SU 2 4 9 187105.786 2099210.709 6.99 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW19-SL 2 11 16 187178.241 2099196.676 5.64 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW19-SU 2 3 8 187176.220 2099201.993 5.64 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW20-SL 2 11 16 187129.003 2099270.471 6.67 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 3/26/08 

PAI-45-MW20-SU 2 4 9 187129.327 2099264.864 6.72 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW21-SL 2 10 15 187345.345 2099245.914 6.27 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW21-SU 2 3 8 187339.024 2099245.269 6.37 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW21-D 2 27 37 187340.975 2099246.902 6.27 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 9/16/08 

PAI-45-MW22-SL 2 10 15 187397.664 2099263.094 6.43 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW22-SU 2 3 8 187392.941 2099266.426 6.51 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW23-SL 2 10 15 187278.133 2099390.679 6.28 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW23-SU 2 3 10 187283.155 2099392.057 6.37 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW24-SU 2 3 8 187373.509 2099284.908 6.62 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 4/2/08 

PAI-45-MW25-SL 2 10 15 187302.168 2099111.404 6.64 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 3/26/08 

PAI-45-MW26-SL 1 10 15 187087.084 2099286.783 5.61 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 9/16/08 

PAI-45-MW27-SL 1 10 15 187088.779 2099392.332 6.58 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 9/16/08 

PAI-45-MW28-D 2 23.7 33.7 187263.583 2099121.183 5.48 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/17/08 

PAI-45-MW29-D 2 23.1 33.1 187284.392 2099087.798 5.18 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW30-D 2 25 35 187323.614 2099133.512 8.05 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW31-SL 2 10 15 187230.214 2099198.181 5.49 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 

PAI-45-MW31-SU 2 5 10 187232.003 2099195.065 5.57 Andrews & Burgess, Inc. 6/11/08 
48 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 2. Temporary-well information, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.—Continued

[NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; —, data not available]

Well name

Installation date 

(month/day/

year)

Sample depth 

(feet below land 

surface)

Northing Easting

Land surface datum NAVD 88 

(Surveyed by Andrews and 

Burgess, Inc., in 2008)

PAI-45-USGS-TW1 6/25/2007 8–11 187360.27 2099409.50 6.59

PAI-45-USGS-TW2 6/25/2007 7–11 187343.36 2099429.00 6.13

PAI-45-USGS-TW3 6/25/2007 7–11 187326.55 2099422.00 6.03

PAI-45-USGS-TW4 6/25/2007 7–11 187323.50 2099404.50 6.54

PAI-45-USGS-TW5 6/25/2007 6–10.5 187314.65 2099435.85 5.88

PAI-45-USGS-TW6 6/25/2007 7–11 187301.52 2099408.25 6.33

PAI-45-USGS-TW7 6/25/2007 7–11 187279.92 2099428.61 6.35

PAI-45-USGS-TW8 6/25/2007 7.5–11.5 187266.28 2099410.01 6.85

PAI-45-USGS-TW9 6/25/2007 7.5–11.5 187257.22 2099423.55 7.55

PAI-45-USGS-TW10 6/25/2007 0–10 187254.39 2099401.62 7.18

PAI-45-USGS-TW11 6/25/2007 7.75–11.75 187366.61 2099389.75 6.77

PAI-45-USGS-TW12 6/25/2007 7.5–10.5 187348.06 2099387.50 6.93

PAI-45-USGS-TW13 6/25/2007 6–10 187331.98 2099384.50 6.84

PAI-45-USGS-TW14 6/25/2007 6–10 187308.06 2099378.75 6.94

PAI-45-USGS-TW15 6/25/2007 6–10 187282.89 2099371.50 6.93

PAI-45-USGS-TW16 6/25/2007 6–10 187245.86 2099364.08 6.15

PAI-45-USGS-TW17 6/25/2007 6.5–10.5 187232.94 2099363.75 6.54

PAI-45-USGS-TW18 6/25/2007 12–14.5 187258.84 2099423.52 7.43

PAI-45-USGS-TW19 6/25/2007 8–12 187189.27 2099397.75 7.83

PAI-45-USGS-TW20 6/25/2007 8–12 187183.31 2099411.00 8.39

PAI-45-USGS-TW21 6/25/2007 11–15 187185.06 2099411.75 8.49

PAI-45-USGS-TW22 6/25/2007 6–10 187201.98 2099356.50 6.9

PAI-45-USGS-TW23 6/25/2007 6–10 187176.92 2099350.50 6.69

PAI-45-USGS-TW24 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187122.83 2099374.50 6.95

PAI-45-USGS-TW25 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187139.01 2099328.13 6.14

PAI-45-USGS-TW26 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187072.66 2099372.77 5.96

PAI-45-USGS-TW27 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187110.40 2099310.81 6.33

PAI-45-USGS-TW28 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187113.94 2099298.75 5.94

PAI-45-USGS-TW29 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 187094.61 2099274.29 6.32

PAI-45-USGS-TW30 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187102.36 2099356.75 6.76

PAI-45-USGS-TW31 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 187127.72 2099232.59 6.95

PAI-45-USGS-TW32 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 187142.73 2099217.73 6.98

PAI-45-USGS-TW33 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187107.59 2099330.16 5.83

PAI-45-USGS-TW34 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187093.87 2099328.33 5.78
Appendix 2 49

Appendix 2. Temporary-well information, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.—Continued

[NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; —, data not available]

Well name

Installation date 

(month/day/

year)

Sample depth 

(feet below land 

surface)

Northing Easting

Land surface datum NAVD 88 

(Surveyed by Andrews and 

Burgess, Inc., in 2008)

PAI-45-USGS-TW35 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187070.40 2099318.86 5.77

PAI-45-USGS-TW36 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 187096.98 2099397.75 7.22

PAI-45-USGS-TW37 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 187167.73 2099175.75 6.47

PAI-45-USGS-TW38 6/27/2007 10–14 187251.48 2099137.50 5.34

PAI-45-USGS-TW39 6/27/2007 10–14 187283.45 2099131.22 5.83

PAI-45-USGS-TW40 6/27/2007 10–14 187234.53 2099123.25 5.29

PAI-45-USGS-TW41 6/27/2007 10–14 187316.97 2099133.25 7.95

PAI-45-USGS-TW42 6/27/2007 10–14 187272.82 2099106.84 5.57

PAI-45-USGS-TW43 6/27/2007 10–14 187202.56 2099108.50 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW44 6/27/2007 10–14 187296.06 2099126.50 7.16

PAI-45-USGS-TW45 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 187171.89 2099107.00 6.76

PAI-45-USGS-TW46 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 187218.25 2099078.75 5.86

PAI-45-USGS-TW47 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 187301.52 2099109.50 7.25

PAI-45-USGS-TW48 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 187234.42 2099192.59 5.64

PAI-45-USGS-TW49 6/27/2007 10–14 187298.99 2099087.18 6.3

PAI-45-USGS-TW50 6/27/2007 11–15 187276.06 2099198.35 6.47

PAI-45-USGS-TW51 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 187286.09 2099176.36 6.61

PAI-45-USGS-TW52 6/27/2007 11–15 187210.67 2099246.72 6

PAI-45-USGS-TW53 6/27/2007 11–15 187188.90 2099234.92 6.06

PAI-45-USGS-TW54 6/27/2007 11–15 187169.28 2099226.16 5.97

PAI-45-USGS-TW55 6/28/2007 11–15 187292.91 2099206.75 6.63

PAI-45-USGS-TW56 6/28/2007 11–15 187254.19 2099207.20 5.75

PAI-45-USGS-TW57 6/28/2007 11–15 187206.84 2099183.50 5.97

PAI-45-USGS-TW58 6/28/2007 11–15 187130.32 2099144.04 6.92

PAI-45-USGS-TW59 6/28/2007 11–15 187096.29 2099247.02 6.92

PAI-45-USGS-TW60 6/28/2007 10–14 187283.61 2099230.42 6.82

PAI-45-USGS-TW61 6/28/2007 11–15 187244.46 2099262.61 6.21

PAI-45-USGS-TW62 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 187224.64 2099306.74 6.26

PAI-45-USGS-TW63 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 187149.34 2099277.79 6.57

PAI-45-USGS-TW64 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 187114.10 2099279.61 5.97

PAI-45-USGS-TW65 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 187135.36 2099411.25 6.53

PAI-45-USGS-TW66 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 187258.48 2099242.97 —

PAI-45-USGS-TW67 6/28/2007 11–15 187277.23 2099251.25 7

PAI-45-USGS-TW68 6/28/2007 11–15 187287.06 2099253.50 6.94
50 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 2. Temporary-well information, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.—Continued

[NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; —, data not available]

Well name

Installation date 

(month/day/

year)

Sample depth 

(feet below land 

surface)

Northing Easting

Land surface datum NAVD 88 

(Surveyed by Andrews and 

Burgess, Inc., in 2008)

PAI-45-USGS-TW69 6/28/2007 11–15 187258.16 2099079.12 5.21

PAI-45-USGS-TW70 6/28/2007 11–15 187254.18 2099103.20 5.2

PAI-45-USGS-TW71 8/29/2007 8–12 187211.46 2099416.85 10.04

PAI-45-USGS-TW72 8/29/2007 11–15 187284.76 2099119.48 5.04

PAI-45-USGS-TW73 8/29/2007 11–15 187266.94 2099152.55 5.6

PAI-45-USGS-TW74 8/29/2007 11–15 187249.54 2099172.17 5.56

PAI-45-USGS-TW75 8/29/2007 1–14 187191.45 2099277.80 6.09

PAI-45-USGS-TW76 8/29/2007 11–15 187127.76 2099283.83 6.88

PAI-45-USGS-TW77 3/5/2008 7–11 and 11–15 187311.01 2099116.30 7.33

PAI-45-USGS-TW78 3/5/2008 7–11 and 11–15 187306.62 2099122.83 7.34

PAI-45-USGS-TW79 3/5/2008 11–15 187294.99 2099121.60 6.31

PAI-45-USGS-TW80 3/5/2008 7–11 and 11–15 187291.03 2099106.77 5.54

PAI-45-USGS-TW81 3/5/2008 7–11 and 11–15 187304.55 2099132.91 7.67

PAI-45-USGS-TW82 3/4/2008 11–15 187291.12 2099140.97 6.72

PAI-45-USGS-TW83 3/5/2008 11–15 187273.63 2099135.31 5.38

PAI-45-USGS-TW84 3/5/2008 11–15 187269.15 2099123.28 5.58

PAI-45-USGS-TW85 3/5/2008 11–15 187281.50 2099096.44 5.35

PAI-45-USGS-TW86 3/5/2008 11–15 187279.37 2099108.35 5.32

PAI-45-USGS-TW87 3/4/2008 11–15 187266.53 2099154.00 5.54

PAI-45-USGS-TW88 3/4/2008 11–15 187260.98 2099146.37 5.58

PAI-45-USGS-TW89 3/4/2008 11–15 187263.54 2099179.96 5.6

PAI-45-USGS-TW90 3/4/2008 11–15 187255.87 2099167.90 5.66

PAI-45-USGS-TW91 3/5/2008 11–15 187248.20 2099157.66 5.51

PAI-45-USGS-TW92 3/4/2008 11–15 187247.59 2099194.75 5.72

PAI-45-USGS-TW93 3/4/2008 7–11 and 11–15 187238.34 2099187.03 5.6

PAI-45-USGS-TW94 3/5/2008 7–11 and 11–15 187293.68 2099135.13 6.6

PAI-45-USGS-TW95 3/5/2008 11–15 187320.82 2099118.61 7.52

PAI-45-USGS-TW96 4/30/2008 Core 4–16 187232.55 2099193.41 5.67
Appendix 3

51

Appendix 3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued[1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; H, sample out of holding time; J, estimated concentration; all concentrations are in micrograms per liter]

Site identifier

Date 

(month/day/

year)

1,1-DCE 1,2-DCE Benzene CB cDCE EB Napht PCE TCE Tol tDCE VC Xyl

PAI-45-MW03-SL 7/23/2007 <3 750 <3 <2.5 750 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 54 <2.5 <3 31.5 <2.5

PAI-45-MW03-SL 9/10/2007 <3 1,080 <3 <2.5 1,070 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 11 <2.5 <3 14.3 <2.5PAI-45-MW04-D 9/10/2007 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW04-SL 8/25/2005 6.51 1,290 <0.3 0.52J 1,290 0.28J <0.25 4,460 5,390 2.71 — 155J —PAI-45-MW04-SL 3/7/2006 <100 796 <100 <100 796 <100 26.6J 5,370 4,760 <100 <100 135 <100

PAI-45-MW04-SLR 3/7/2006 <100 787 <100 <100 787 <100 32.7J 5,270 4,770 <100 <100 137 <100

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/26/2006 <6.8 — <10 <11 830 <10 <16 3,700 5,100 <8.5 12J 200 —PAI-45-MW04-SL 7/24/2007 <15 701 <15 <12.5 701 <12.5 <12.5 1,290 4,010 <12.5 <15 113 <12.5

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/10/2007 3.45 808 <0.3 1.13 1,010H <0.25 <0.25 1,840H 5,860H 1.41 13.2 145H 0.50J

PAI-45-MW04-SL 6/18/2008 3.97 1,070 <0.3 1.2 1,450H <0.25 <0.25 1,030H 3,440H 1.16 15.4 >100 0.46JPAI-45-MW04-SL 9/9/2008 <15 2,260 <15 <12.5 2,260 <12.5 <12.5 326 2,280 <12.5 <15 101 <12.5

PAI-45-MW04-SU 7/24/2007 <1.2 45.9 <1.2 <1 45.9 <1 <1 67.4 245 <1 <1.2 10.4 <1

PAI-45-MW04-SU 9/10/2007 <0.3 53.4 <0.3 <0.25 52.6 <0.25 <0.25 80.6 277 <0.25 0.82J 12.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW05-SL 7/23/2007 <0.3 55 <0.3 <0.25 55 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW05-SL 9/11/2007 <0.3 27.7 <0.3 <0.25 27.7 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.311J <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW05-SL 6/19/2008 <0.6 126 <0.6 <0.5 126 <0.5 1.03J <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.6 <1 <0.5

PAI-45-MW05-SL 9/8/2008 <0.3 63.2 <0.3 <0.25 62.6 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.94J <0.25 0.6J 0.6J <0.25

PAI-45-MW05-SU 7/23/2007 <0.3 23.7 <0.3 <0.25 23.7 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.47J <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW05-SU 6/19/2008 <0.3 13 <0.3 <0.25 13 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW05-SU 9/8/2008 <0.3 4.04 <0.3 <0.25 4.04 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 1.44 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25
52 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Appendix 3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued [1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; H, sample out of holding time; J, estimated concentration; all concentrations are in micrograms per liter] Site identifier Date (month/day/ year) 1,1-DCE 1,2-DCE Benzene CB cDCE EB Napht PCE TCE Tol tDCE VC Xyl PAI-45-MW10-SL 7/23/2007 <3 504 <3 <2.5 504 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 153 <2.5 <3 <5 <2.5 PAI-45-MW10-SL 9/10/2007 <1.5 525 <1.5 <1.25 563 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 263 <1.25 2.59J 4.53J <1.25 PAI-45-MW10-SL 6/18/2008 <0.3 417 <0.3 0.81J 406 <0.25 <0.25 1.3 50.4 <0.25 3.54 8.87 <0.25 PAI-45-MW10-SL 9/9/2008 0.51J 457 <0.3 <0.25 454 <0.25 <0.25 <0.45 13.7 <0.25 2.91 8.32 <0.6 PAI-45-MW10-SU 7/23/2007 0.5J 123 <0.3 <0.25 120 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 1.84 9.03 <0.25 PAI-45-MW10-SU 9/10/2007 0.7J 147 <0.3 0.387J 168 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 2.07 9.79 <0.25 PAI-45-MW10-SU 6/18/2008 <0.3 59.8 <0.3 <0.25 58.4 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 1.34 9.65 <0.25 PAI-45-MW10-SU 9/9/2008 <0.3 66 <0.3 <0.25 64.7 <0.25 0.49J 8.98 2.4 <0.25 1.26 18.3 <0.6 PAI-45-MW13-SL 7/23/2007 <0.6 201 <0.6 3.43 189 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.6 4.03 <0.5 PAI-45-MW13-SL 9/11/2007 <1.5 334 <1.5 3.22J 334 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 <1.5 <2.5 1.38J PAI-45-MW13-SL 6/17/2008 <0.3 171 <0.3 3.61 144 <0.25 <0.25 11.5 6.32 <0.25 0.7J 5.52 <0.25 PAI-45-MW13-SL 9/9/2008 <0.6 154 <0.6 4.04 153 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.7J 3.34 <0.5 PAI-45-MW16-SL 7/24/2007 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW16-SU 7/24/2007 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW17-SL 7/24/2007 <0.3 1.04 <0.3 <0.25 1.04 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.27J <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW17-SL 9/11/2007 <0.3 0.61J <0.3 <0.25 0.61J <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW17-SL 6/17/2008 <0.3 2.48 <0.3 <0.25 2.48 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 1.67 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW17-SL 9/8/2008 <0.3 0.35J <0.3 <0.25 0.35J <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.25J <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW17SU 6/17/2008 <0.3 9.71 <0.3 <0.25 9.71 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 8.83 <0.25 <0.3 1.41 <0.25 PAI-45-MW17-SU 7/24/2007 <0.3 5.34 <0.3 <0.25 5.34 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 5.74 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW17-SU 9/11/2007 <0.3 7.9 <0.3 <0.25 7.9 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 9.04 <0.25 <0.3 0.87J <0.25 PAI-45-MW17-SU 9/8/2008 <0.3 7.62 <0.3 <0.25 7.62 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 4.69 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25
Appendix 3

53

Appendix 3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued[1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; H, sample out of holding time; J, estimated concentration; all concentrations are in micrograms per liter]

Site identifier

Date 

(month/day/

year)

1,1-DCE 1,2-DCE Benzene CB cDCE EB Napht PCE TCE Tol tDCE VC Xyl

PAI-45-MW18-SL 9/9/2008 <0.3 3.75 <0.3 <0.25 3.75 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW18-SU 9/9/2008 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW19-SL 7/24/2007 <0.6 141 <0.6 <0.5 141 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 7.63 <0.5 <0.6 31.7 <0.5

PAI-45-MW19-SLR 7/24/2007 <0.6 136 <0.6 <0.5 135 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 6.55 <0.5 0.84J 30.2 <0.5

PAI-45-MW19-SL 9/11/2007 <0.3 107 <0.3 <0.25 127 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 5.46 <0.25 0.97J 23.5 <0.25

PAI-45-MW19-SL 6/19/2008 <0.3 100 <0.3 <0.25 99.8 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 1.48 <0.25 0.68J 24.8 <0.25

PAI-45-MW19-SL 9/10/2008 <0.3 127 <0.3 <0.25 111 <0.25 <0.25 6.87 2.27 <0.25 1.05 30.3 <0.6

PAI-45-MW20-SL 8/25/2005 3.85 900 <0.3 <0.25 900 <0.25 <0.25 1,100 3,950 1.47 — <100 —PAI-45-MW20-SL 3/7/2006 <100 905 <100 <100 905 <100 <100 782 5,840 <100 <100 117 <100

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/26/2006 <6.8 — <10 <11 920 <10 <16 430 5,600 <8.5 15J 120 —PAI-45-MW20-SL 7/24/2007 <15 904 <15 <12.5 904 <12.5 <12.5 731 4,940 <12.5 <15 94.6 <12.5

PAI-45-MW20-SLR 7/24/2007 <15 896 <15 <12.5 896 <12.5 <12.5 740 4,840 <12.5 <15 99.6 <12.5

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/10/2007 3.2 779 <0.3 0.58J 955H <0.25 <0.25 661H 5,460H 1.36 12.6 97.7 0.48J

PAI-45-MW20-SL 6/19/2008 2.64 926 <0.3 0.67J 983 <0.25 <0.25 358 3,270 1.11 15.1 92 0.4J

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/8/2008 4.16 1,700 <0.3 <0.25 2510 <0.25 <0.25 265 3,560 1.06 23.3 81.7 <0.6

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/26/2006 <6.8 — <10 <11 340 <10 <16 700 1,500 <8.5 <10 84 —PAI-45-MW20-SU 7/24/2007 <7.5 993 <7.5 <6.25 993 <6.25 <6.25 1,260 2,350 <6.25 <7.5 188 <6.25

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/10/2007 <0.3 66.4 <0.3 <0.25 65.5 <0.25 <0.25 32.6B 287H 0.26J 0.95J 19.1 <0.25

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/8/2008 0.75J 295 <0.3 <0.25 283 <0.25 <0.25 43.3 233 <0.25 2.84 38 <0.25

PAI-45-MW23-SL 7/23/2007 <0.3 26.2 <0.3 <0.25 25.9 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.32J <0.25 0.37J 2.3 <0.25

PAI-45-MW23-SL 9/11/2007 <0.3 15.1 <0.3 <0.25 15.1 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 0.95J <0.25
54 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Appendix 3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued [1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; H, sample out of holding time; J, estimated concentration; all concentrations are in micrograms per liter] Site identifier Date (month/day/ year) 1,1-DCE 1,2-DCE Benzene CB cDCE EB Napht PCE TCE Tol tDCE VC Xyl PAI-45-MW23-SU 7/23/2007 <6 1,030 <6 <5 1,010 <5 <5 7.26J 276 <5 23.1 183 <5 PAI-45-MW25-SL 9/11/2007 <75 796 <75 <62.5 796 <62.5 <62.5 17,200 4,330 <62.5 <75 <125 <62.5 PAI-45-MW25-SLR 9/11/2007 <75 746 <75 <62.5 746 <62.5 <62.5 17,200 3,960 <62.5 <75 <125 <62.5 PAI-45-MW25-SL 6/19/2008 3.53 413 <0.3 2.22 362 0.72J <0.25 20,400 4,210 2.02 6.69 46.5 3.14 PAI-45-MW25-SL 9/9/2008 1.51 447 <0.3 2.06 447 0.44J <0.25 20,600 3,920 1.1 5.93 60.3 2.04 PAI-45-MW26-SL 9/11/2007 <0.3 11.8 <0.3 <0.25 11.8 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW26-SL 6/19/2008 <0.3 3.32 <0.3 <0.25 3.32 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW26-SL 9/9/2008 <0.3 17.5 <0.3 <0.25 17.5 <0.25 <0.25 <0.45 0.501J <0.25 <0.3 1.62 <0.6 PAI-45-MW27-SL 9/11/2007 <1.5 5.85 6.01 <1.25 5.85 5.14 606 <1.25 <1.25 1.55J <1.5 <2.5 8.44 PAI-45-MW27-SLR 9/11/2007 <1.5 5.83 5.94 <1.25 5.83 4.94J 555 <1.25 <1.25 1.38J <1.5 <2.5 8.49 PAI-45-MW27-SL 6/19/2008 <0.3H 5.38H 3.35H <0.25H 5.38H 2.05H 281 <0.25H <0.25H 0.34HJ <0.3H <0.5H 2.84H PAI-45-MW27-SL 9/9/2008 <0.3 7.61 4.59 <0.25 7.61 3.27 219 <0.45 <0.25 0.420J <0.3 <0.5 4.92 PAI-45-MW28D 6/17/2008 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW29D 6/17/2008 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW30D 6/17/2008 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 PAI-45-MW31-SL 6/18/2008 4.96 1,180 <0.3 1.11 1,350 0.46J <0.25 7,240 4,380 2.57 20 120 1.98 PAI-45-MW31-SLR 6/18/2008 5.9 1,220 <0.3 1.12 1,310 0.45J <0.25 7,450 4,560 2.72 22 170 1.99 PAI-45-MW31-SL 9/9/2008 <30 3,270 <30 <25 3,270 <25 <25 7,840 4,670 <25 <30 228 <60 PAI-45-MW31-SLR 9/9/2008 <30 2,810 <30 <25 2,810 <25 <25 8,720 5,560 <25 <30 259 <60 PAI-45-MW31-SU 6/18/2008 2.83 925 <0.3 <0.25 945 <0.25 <0.25 2,060 1,480 1.26 19.5 144 <0.25 PAI-45-MW31-SUR 6/18/2008 3.23 920 <0.3 <0.25 1,010 <0.25 <0.25 2,160 1,550 1.13 18 148 <0.25 PAI-45-MW31-SU 9/9/2008 <7.5 1,150 <7.5 <6.25 1,140 <6.25 <6.25 2,770 1,860 <6.25 12.0J 205 <15

PAI-45-MW31-SUR 9/9/2008 3.69 1,050 <0.3 <0.25 1,230 <0.25 <0.25 3,000 2,090 1.45 13.7 263 <0.6
Appendix 4

55

Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved gases, and total organic carbon in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued[H2, molecular hydrogen; HIBA, 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid; TOC, total organic carbon; Mg, magnesium; Mn, manganese; mg/L, milligrams per liter; nM, nanomoles per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; mg/mL, milligrams per milliliter; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; B, target analyte was detected in the associated blank]

Site identifier

Date 

(month/

day/year)

Acetic 

acid

(mg/L)

Arsenic

(mg/L)

Calcium

(μg/L)

Chloride

(mg/L)

Ethane

(μg/L)

Ethene

(μg/L)

H2

(nM)

Lactic 

acid and 

HIBA

(mg/L)

Mg

(μg/L)

Mn

(μg/L)

Methane

(μg/L)

Nitrate

(mg/L)

Salinity

(mg/mL)

Sodium

(μg/L)

Sulfate

(mg/L)

TOC

(mg/L)

PAI-45-MW03-SL 7/23/2007 0.11 — — 143 <2 4.6J 1.1 — — — 423 — — — 110 34

PAI-45-MW03-SL 9/10/2007 0.19 — — 241 <10 20J — <0.1 — — 1,970 — — — 111 17

PAI-45-MW04-SL 8/25/2005 — — — 185 <2 97 — — — — 1,510 — — — 53 —

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/26/2006 — — — — <0.4 25 — — — — 440 — — — — 24

PAI-45-MW04-SL 7/24/2007 <0.07 — — 146 <10 55J 1.1 0.15 — — 1,410 — — — 51 21

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/10/2007 0.12 — — 260 <20 84J — <0.1 — — 2,740 — — — 64 17

PAI-45-MW04-SL 6/18/2008 — — 7,550 153 28BJ 45J — — 7,920 18.4 2,390B <0.033 — 122,000 52 20

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/9/2008 — — 8,020 157 0.56 43 1.6 — 7,870 16.4 1,800 — — 124,000 54 21

PAI-45-MW04-SU 7/24/2007 — — — 17.9 <4 6.1J — — — — 358 — — — 38 —

PAI-45-MW04-SU 9/10/2007 — — — 19.5 <10 10J — — — — 588 — — — 34 —

PAI-45-MW05-SL 7/23/2007 — — — 371 <20 <20 — — — — 3,640 — — — 13 —

PAI-45-MW05-SL 9/11/2007 — — — 379 <40 <40 — — — — 5,170 — — — 2.9 —

PAI-45-MW05-SL 6/19/2008 — — 52,000 418 21J <20 — — 22,800 394 685B — — 226,000 65 9.8

PAI-45-MW05-SL 9/8/2008 — < 0.0050 56,000 369 0.06 0.25 — — 19,700 413 3,300 — — 178,000 14 7

PAI-45-MW05-SU 7/23/2007 — — — 91.3 <2 <2 — — — — 93.6 — — — 14 —

PAI-45-MW05-SU 6/19/2008 — — — 46.6 3BJ <2 — — — — 155B — — — 19 12

PAI-45-MW05-SU 9/8/2008 — < 0.0050 — 16.4 < 0.03 < 0.02 — — — — 11 — — — 28 15

PAI-45-MW10-SL 7/23/2007 — — — 259 <2 4.J 2.2 — — — 190 — — — 140 16

PAI-45-MW10-SL 9/10/2007 — — — 243 <4 8.2J — — — — 363 — — — 110 —

PAI-45-MW10-SL 6/18/2008 — — 23,300 223 3BJ 3.7J — 14,000 65.9 164B — — 183,000 120 17

PAI-45-MW10-SL 9/9/2008 — — 24,100 222 0.04 5.3 2.1 — 15,900 63.5 170 — — 190,000 120 16

PAI-45-MW10-SU 7/23/2007 — — — 109 <20 <20 — — — — 942 — — — 54 —

PAI-45-MW10-SU 9/10/2007 — — — 114 <10 <10 — — — — 958 — — — 74 13

PAI-45-MW10-SU 6/18/2008 — — — 99.6 <10 <10 — — — — 679B — — — 47 50

PAI-45-MW10-SU 9/9/2008 — — — 103 0.1 9.3 — — — — 1100 — — — 49 33
56 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved gases, and total organic carbon in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued [H2, molecular hydrogen; HIBA, 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid; TOC, total organic carbon; Mg, magnesium; Mn, manganese; mg/L, milligrams per liter; nM, nanomoles per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; mg/mL, milligrams per milliliter; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; B, target analyte was detected in the associated blank] Site identifier Date (month/ day/year) Acetic acid (mg/L) Arsenic (mg/L) Calcium

(μg/L)

Chloride

(mg/L)

Ethane

(μg/L)

Ethene

(μg/L)

H2

(nM)

Lactic 

acid and 

HIBA

(mg/L)

Mg

(μg/L)

Mn

(μg/L)

Methane

(μg/L)

Nitrate

(mg/L)

Salinity

(mg/mL)

Sodium

(μg/L)

Sulfate

(mg/L)

TOC

(mg/L)

PAI-45-MW13-SL 7/23/2007 0.14

—

— 153 <4 <4

— 0.15

—

— 425

—

—

— 120 15

PAI-45-MW13-SL 9/11/2007 <0.07

—

— 203 <4 <4

— <0.1

—

— 600

—

—

— 130 14

PAI-45-MW13-SL 6/17/2008

—

— 24,700 140

—

—

—

— 13,700 69.6

—

—

— 143,000 87 16

PAI-45-MW13-SL 9/9/2008

—

— 28,300 131 0.19 1 —

— 15,100 73.9 870

—

— 131,000 100 15

PAI-45-MW16-SL 7/24/2007

—

—

— 24.3 <20 <20

—

—

—

— 3,840

—

—

— 0.7

—

PAI-45-MW16-SU 7/24/2007

—

—

— 4.5 <2 <2

—

—

—

— 36.5

—

—

— 9.4

—

PAI-45-MW17-SL 7/24/2007

—

—

— 1,480 <4 <4

—

—

—

— 294

—

—

— 200

—

PAI-45-MW17-SL 9/11/2007

—

—

— 1,500 <4 <4

—

—

—

— 385

—

—

— 200

—

PAI-45-MW17-SL 6/17/2008

—

— 72,200 1,750 2.8BJ <2

—

— 128,000 172 269B

—

— 890,000 250 9

PAI-45-MW17-SL 9/8/2008

—

— 46,600 1,160

—

—

— 80,900 152

—

—

— 646,000 130 8

PAI-45-MW17SU 6/17/2008

—

— 19,400 86 3.BJ <2

—

— 7,750 23.2 250B

—

— 87,500 10 54

PAI-45-MW17-SU 7/24/2007

—

—

— 162 <4 <4

—

—

—

— 476

—

—

— 15

—

PAI-45-MW17-SU 9/11/2007

—

—

— 141 <4 <4

—

—

—

— 876

—

—

— 14

—

PAI-45-MW17-SU 9/8/2008

—

— 21,500 68.5

—

—

—

— 8,570 23.8

—

—

— 60,700 7.8 19

PAI-45-MW18-SL 9/9/2008

— 0.013

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

PAI-45-MW18-SU 9/9/2008

— < 0.0050

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

PAI-45-MW19-SL 7/24/2007

—

—

— 332 5.1J <4

—

—

—

— 614

—

—

— 36 31

PAI-45-MW19-SLR 7/24/2007

—

—

— 357 <4 <4

—

—

—

— 569

—

—

— 36

—

PAI-45-MW19-SL 9/11/2007 0.33

—

— 303 <4 <4

— <0.1

—

— 742

—

—

— 29 33

PAI-45-MW19-SL 6/19/2008

—

—

— 311 <10 <10

—

—

—

— 203B

— <1

— 32 30

PAI-45-MW19-SL 9/10/2008

—

—

— 334 1.8 1.4

—

—

—

— 510

—

—

— 33 33
Appendix 4

57

Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved gases, and total organic carbon in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued[H2, molecular hydrogen; HIBA, 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid; TOC, total organic carbon; Mg, magnesium; Mn, manganese; mg/L, milligrams per liter; nM, nanomoles per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; mg/mL, milligrams per milliliter; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; B, target analyte was detected in the associated blank]

Site identifier

Date 

(month/

day/year)

Acetic 

acid

(mg/L)

Arsenic

(mg/L)

Calcium

(μg/L)

Chloride

(mg/L)

Ethane

(μg/L)

Ethene

(μg/L)

H2

(nM)

Lactic 

acid and 

HIBA

(mg/L)

Mg

(μg/L)

Mn

(μg/L)

Methane

(μg/L)

Nitrate

(mg/L)

Salinity

(mg/mL)

Sodium

(μg/L)

Sulfate

(mg/L)

TOC

(mg/L)

PAI-45-MW20-SL 8/25/2005 — — — 678 <2 35 — — — — 1,060 — — — 130 —

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/26/2006 — — — — <0.4 13 — — — — 200 — — — — —

PAI-45-MW20-SL 7/24/2007 0.26 — — 478 <40 74J 2.9 0.42 — — 1,680 — — — 110 19

PAI-45-MW20-SLR 7/24/2007 0.21 — — 476 <40 66J — 0.29 — — 1,820 — — — 120 19

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/10/2007 0.13 — — 587 <20 64J — <0.1 — — 1,970 — — — 130 16

PAI-45-MW20-SL 6/19/2008 — — 31,100 — 16BJ 36J — — 21,300 68.5 1230B 0.132 — 267,000 — 16

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/8/2008 — — 43,700 473 0.51 35 2 — 27,700 91.9 1400 — — 318,000 110 16

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/26/2006 — — — — <0.4 7.7 — — — — 190 — — — — —

PAI-45-MW20-SU 7/24/2007 — — — 85 <10 45J — — — — 1,350 — — — 38 14

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/10/2007 0.08 — — 261 <4 9.3J — 0.18 — — 865 — — — 53 12

PAI-45-MW20-SU 6/19/2008 — — 4,800 99.2 <10 22J — — 8,570 22.2 709B — — 91,600 44 22

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/8/2008 — — 4,250 101 0.14 8.2 — — 7,310 9.89J 870 — — 85,500 38 12

PAI-45-MW23-SL 7/23/2007 0.23 — — 161 <40 <40 — 0.23 — — 5,440 — — — 0.6 7

PAI-45-MW23-SL 9/11/2007 <0.07 — — 174 <100 <100 — 0.7 — — 11,500 — — — <0.1 <5

PAI-45-MW23-SU 7/23/2007 — — — 79.9 <10 95J — — — — 632 — — — 52 —

PAI-45-MW25-SL 9/11/2007 <0.07 — — 90.4 <20 200J — 1.4 — — 754 — — — 45 8

PAI-45-MW25-SLR 9/11/2007 <0.07 — — 82.7 <4 160 — 1.1 — — 581 — — — 45 7

PAI-45-MW25-SL 6/19/2008 — — 15,600 135 2.6BJ 28 — — 7,340 38.6 203B 0.087J — 106,000 50 10

PAI-45-MW25-SL 9/9/2008 — 0.018 8,310 62.4 0.53 45 1.8 — 4,840 18.2 180 — — 62,200 43 11

PAI-45-MW26-SL 9/11/2007 0.28 — — 341 <4 <4 — <0.1 — — 701 — — — 58 16PAI-45-MW26-SL 6/19/2008 — — 72,500 381 3.2BJ <2 — — 23,100 101 394B — — 286,000 65 18PAI-45-MW26-SL 9/9/2008 — — 69,500 574 0.21 0.67 — — 30,600 108 390 — — 432,000 68 19
58 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Appendix 4. Concentrations of inorganic constituents, dissolved gases, and total organic carbon in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued [H2, molecular hydrogen; HIBA, 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid; TOC, total organic carbon; Mg, magnesium; Mn, manganese; mg/L, milligrams per liter; nM, nanomoles per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; mg/mL, milligrams per milliliter; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; B, target analyte was detected in the associated blank] Site identifier Date (month/ day/year) Acetic acid (mg/L) Arsenic (mg/L) Calcium

(μg/L)

Chloride

(mg/L)

Ethane

(μg/L)

Ethene

(μg/L)

H2

(nM)

Lactic 

acid and 

HIBA

(mg/L)

Mg

(μg/L)

Mn

(μg/L)

Methane

(μg/L)

Nitrate

(mg/L)

Salinity

(mg/mL)

Sodium

(μg/L)

Sulfate

(mg/L)

TOC

(mg/L)

PAI-45-MW27-SL 9/11/2007

—

—

— 138 <40 <40

—

—

—

— 7,630

—

—

— 2.9 <5

PAI-45-MW27-SLR 9/11/2007

—

—

— 135 <40 <40

—

—

—

— 7,310

—

—

— 2.6

—

PAI-45-MW27-SL 6/19/2008

—

— 11,000 126 <40 <40

—

— 11,000 61.4 3210B

— <1 76,200 0.6 6

PAI-45-MW27-SL 9/9/2008

—

— 9,610 120 0.23 0.18

—

— 10,100 57.2 7200

—

— 72,000 0.2J 5

PAI-45-MW28D 6/17/2008

—

—

— 5,520 <2 <2

—

—

—

— 17.3BJ

—

—

— 950 4

PAI-45-MW29D 6/17/2008

—

—

— 4,160 3.1BJ <2

—

—

—

— 20.6BJ

— 8.1

— 660 4

PAI-45-MW30D 6/17/2008

—

—

— 1,940 3.2BJ <2

—

—

—

— 29.8B

—

—

— 260 6

PAI-45-MW31-SL 6/18/2008

—

— 13,300 214 14BJ 130

—

— 10,400 54.5 1,650B <0.033 144,000 62 14

PAI-45-MW31-SLR 6/18/2008

—

— 13,400 213 14BJ 140

—

— 10,400 56.1 2,140B

—

— 145,000 62 14

PAI-45-MW31-SL 9/9/2008

— 0.022 22,500 208 2.2 150 31

— 16,500 102 2,700

—

— 227,000 54 12

PAI-45-MW31-SLR 9/9/2008

—

— 18,500 208 2.3 140

—

— 14,200 79.5 2400

—

— 176,000 53 12

PAI-45-MW31-SU 6/18/2008

—

— 3,330 125 65BJ 77J

— 3,080 21.2 4,420B <0.033H

— 122,000 76 29

PAI-45-MW31-SUR 6/18/2008

—

— 3,360 129 51BJ 49J

—

— 3,080 21.9 2,770B

—

— 125,000 72 26

PAI-45-MW31-SU 9/9/2008

—

— 3,270 121 0.59 87 3.4

— 3,190 16.2 4,400

—

— 113,000 63 34

PAI-45-MW31-SUR 9/9/2008

—

—

— 120 0.78 74

—

—

—

— 5,400

—

—

— 63 34
Appendix 5 59

Appendix 5. Concentrations of field-measured constituents in groundwater from monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit 

Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued

[Alk, total alkalinity as calcium carbonate; CO2, carbon dioxide; DO, dissolved oxygen; Fe, ferrous iron; SC, specific conductance; Temp., temperature; <, less 

than; —, not analyzed; mg/L, milligrams per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; 

>, greater than]

Site identifier

Date

(month/day/

year)

Alk

(mg/L)

CO2

(mg/L)

DO

(mg/L)

Fe

(mg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm at 

25 °C)

Sulfide

(mg/L)

Temp.

°C

PAI-45-MW03-SL 7/23/2007 — — — — 6.01 1,030 — 23.92

PAI-45-MW03-SL 9/10/2007 55 50 <0.03 — 5.81 985 — 25.00

PAI-45-MW04-D 9/10/2007 200 50 0.05 — 6.35 12,700 <0.05 24.67

PAI-45-MW04-D 9/10/2007 200 50 0.05 — 6.35 12,700 <0.05 —

PAI-45-MW04-SL 8/25/2005 35 150 <0.03 17.5 5.71 1,040 <0.05 25.35

PAI-45-MW04-SL 3/7/2006 — — — — 5.69 710 — 17.76

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/26/2006 25 180 <0.03 5.55 5.55 784 <0.05 25.15

PAI-45-MW04-SL 7/24/2007 60 175 0.1 5.17 5.58 745 <0.05 24.18

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/10/2007 35 100 0.05 — 5.83 632 — 25.40

PAI-45-MW04-SL 6/18/2008 20 170 0.15 5.32 5.58 773 <0.2 21.21

PAI-45-MW04-SL 9/9/2008 35 190 <0.03 5.36 5.63 785 <0.2 25.26

PAI-45-MW04-SU 7/24/2007 <10 100 0.1 1.55 4.99 191 <0.05 25.93

PAI-45-MW04-SU 9/10/2007 –10 125 0.02 — 5.16 211 <0.05 26.81

PAI-45-MW05-SL 7/23/2007 — — — — 5.81 1,449 — 26.53

PAI-45-MW05-SL 9/11/2007 >1,000 50 <0.025 — 5.58 1,740 0.1 27.22

PAI-45-MW05-SL 6/19/2008 22 180 0.3 18.2 5.5 1,737 <0.2 25.02

PAI-45-MW05-SL 9/8/2008 45 30 0.1 27 5.76 1,464 0.18 27.57

PAI-45-MW05-SU 7/23/2007 100 70 0.7 2.8 6.31 568 <0.05 27.74

PAI-45-MW05-SU 6/19/2008 120 65 0.6 <0.2 6.41 480 <0.2 26.19

PAI-45-MW05-SU 9/8/2008 70 17 2 1.18 — 509 0.08 29.38

PAI-45-MW10-SL 7/23/2007 — — — — 5.97 1,390 — 27.51

PAI-45-MW10-SL 9/10/2007 55 80 0.1 — 5.61 1,190 — 29.55

PAI-45-MW10-SL 6/18/2008 60 40 0.1 9.59 5.73 1,230 <0.2 25.54

PAI-45-MW10-SL 9/9/2008 70 45 <0.03 9.73 5.67 1,260 <0.2 30.08

PAI-45-MW10-SU 7/23/2007 — — — — 6.3 975 — 29.52

PAI-45-MW10-SU 9/10/2007 150 70 <0.03 — 5.86 981 <0.05 30.80

PAI-45-MW10-SU 6/18/2008 170 35 0.05 13.7 6.23 960 <0.2 27.71

PAI-45-MW10-SU 9/9/2008 225 40 0.05 16.4 6.18 978 <0.2 30.76

PAI-45-MW13-SL 7/23/2007 — — — — 6.08 1,030 — 28.43

PAI-45-MW13-SL 9/11/2007 110 40 0.05 — — 1,000 <0.05 29.55

PAI-45-MW13-SL 6/17/2008 125 200 0.25 4.66 5.94 992 <0.2 25.11

PAI-45-MW13-SL 9/9/2008 100 200 0.05 4.97 5.96 1,010 <0.2 29.28

PAI-45-MW16-SL 7/24/2007 — — — — 6.2 313 — 25.81

PAI-45-MW16-SU 7/24/2007 — — — — 5.69 103 — 28.54

PAI-45-MW17-SL 7/24/2007 — — — — 5.77 4,960 — 26.84

PAI-45-MW17-SL 9/11/2007 65 50 0.05 — 5.61 5,310 <.05 27.96

PAI-45-MW17-SL 6/17/2008 75 60 0.05 28.8 5.83 5,920 0.2 24.66

PAI-45-MW17-SL 9/8/2008 40 105 0.05 14.3 5.55 4,260 <0.2 27.82

PAI-45-MW17-SU 7/24/2007 — — — — 6.63 942 28.15

PAI-45-MW17-SU 9/11/2007 150 35 0.05 — 6.43 874 <0.05 29.29
60 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 5. Concentrations of field-measured constituents in groundwater from monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit 

Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2005–2008.—Continued

[Alk, total alkalinity as calcium carbonate; CO2, carbon dioxide; DO, dissolved oxygen; Fe, ferrous iron; SC, specific conductance; Temp., temperature; <, less 

than; —, not analyzed; mg/L, milligrams per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; 

>, greater than]

Site identifier

Date

(month/day/

year)

Alk

(mg/L)

CO2

(mg/L)

DO

(mg/L)

Fe

(mg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm at 

25 °C)

Sulfide

(mg/L)

Temp.

°C

PAI-45-MW17-SU 6/17/2008 140 25 <0.03 12.8 6.62 622 <0.2 26.81

PAI-45-MW17-SU 9/8/2008 110 80 <0.03 14.2 6.42 631 <0.2 28.51

PAI-45-MW18-SL 9/9/2008 180 25 0.1 2.27 6.67 3,030 <0.2 25.92

PAI-45-MW18-SU 9/9/2008 175 60 0.075 7.47 6.73 437 <0.2 28.01

PAI-45-MW19-SL 7/24/2007 — — — — 5.72 1,560 — 23.02

PAI-45-MW19-SL 9/11/2007 65 45 0.05 — 5.75 1,350 <0.05 25.08

PAI-45-MW19-SL 6/19/2008 65 160 0.07 9.45 5.93 1,360 <0.2 20.87

PAI-45-MW19-SL 9/10/2008 60 170 <0.03 9.21 — — <0.2 —

PAI-45-MW20-SL 8/25/2005 50 70 0.15 12.5 5.92 — <0.05 —

PAI-45-MW20-SL 3/7/2006 — — — 2.5 6.07 3,990 — 19.55

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/26/2006 70 170 0.05 3.95 5.87 4,270 <0.05 25.90

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/29/2006 — — — — — — — —

PAI-45-MW20-SL 7/24/2007 90 165 0.1 6.01 5.8 2,250 <0.05 25.38

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/10/2007 55 50 0.05 — 5.83 1,640 — 26.01

PAI-45-MW20-SL 6/19/2008 50 28 0.1 5.15 6.01 1,950 <0.2 23.10

PAI-45-MW20-SL 9/8/2008 45 155 <0.03 6.9 5.85 2,590 <0.2 26.12

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/26/2006 37 180 0.1 3 5.5 579 <0.05 26.94

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/29/2006 50 40 >1 — 6.44 1,540 <0.05 27.49

PAI-45-MW20-SU 7/24/2007 50 160 0.15 2.1 5.59 448 <0.05 27.54

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/10/2007 50 40 >1 — 6.44 1,540 <0.05 27.49

PAI-45-MW20-SU 9/8/2008 40 160 0.25 2.72 — — 0.28 —

PAI-45-MW20-SU 6/18/2008 35 50 0.6 4.43 5.58 591 0.47 26.20

PAI-45-MW23-SL 7/23/2007 250 105 <0.025 14.12 6.75 1,070 <0.05 28.23

PAI-45-MW23-SL 9/11/2007 100 40 0.1 — 6.48 1,040 — 28.66

PAI-45-MW25-SL 9/11/2007 35 25 0.2 — 5.58 427 — —

PAI-45-MW25-SL 6/19/2008 30 30 0.05 — 5.6 751 <0.2 26.24

PAI-45-MW25-SL 9/9/2008 18 180 0.1 3.75 5.51 436 <0.2 29.18

PAI-45-MW26-SL 9/11/2007 200 40 0.1 — 6.35 1,770 — 28.97

PAI-45-MW26-SL 6/19/2008 200 35 0.2 10 6.56 2,010 <0.2 24.34

PAI-45-MW26-SL 9/9/2008 250 120 <0.025 12 6.54 2,790 <0.2 28.23

PAI-45-MW27-SL 9/11/2007 <10 45 0.05 — 5.68 613 — 27.96

PAI-45-MW27-SL 6/19/2008 40 135 <0.025 5.97 5.71 575 <0.2 25.40

PAI-45-MW27-SL 9/9/2008 40 145 <0.025 5.22 5.69 547 <0.2 27.49

PAI-45-MW28-D 6/17/2008 225 250 <0.025 92.2 6.21 17,700 <0.2 26.29

PAI-45-MW29-D 6/17/2008 240 35 0.1 0.94 7 13,900 0.14 26.72

PAI-45-MW30-D 6/17/2008 250 80 0.05 2.41 6.75 7,050 <0.2 25.07

PAI-45-MW31-SL 6/18/2008 18 140 0.075 5.52 5.66 1,000 <0.2 25.89

PAI-45-MW31-SL 9/9/2008 40 45 <0.025 11.8 5.73 1,110 <0.2 30.26

PAI-45-MW31-SU 6/18/2008 <10 200 0.075 4.14 5.1 708 <0.2 28.98

PAI-45-MW31-SU 9/9/2008 <10 70 0.1 5.77 5.27 679 <0.2 31.47
Appendix 6

61

Appendix 6. Concentrations of groundwater constituents in temporary wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008.—Continued[ft BLS, feet below land surface; 1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; SC, specific conductance at 25 °C; TOC, total organic carbon; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; μg/L, micrograms per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, Celsius; *, analysis was done by Microseeps, Inc, and is an approximation only. All other analyses were done by General Engineering Laboratory]

Well name

Date

(month/

day/year)

Depth

(ft BLS)

1,1-DCE

(μg/L)

1,2-DCE

(μg/L)

Benzene

(μg/L)

CB

(μg/L)

cDCE

(μg/L)

EB

(μg/L)

Napht

(μg/L)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

Tol

(μg/L)

tDCE

(μg/L)

VC

(μg/L)

Xyl

(μg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm 

at 25 °C

Temp.

(°C)

PAI-45-USGS-TW1 6/25/2007 8–11 <0.3 1.3 <0.3 <0.25 1.3 <0.25 <0.25 0.401J 1.5 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.73 1,470 29.8PAI-45-USGS-TW2 6/25/2007 7–11 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.12 1,350 29.78

PAI-45-USGS-TW3 6/25/2007 7–11 <1.5 268 <1.5 <1.25 268 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 26.2 <1.25 <1.5 5.83 <1.25 6.15 2,010 30.75

PAI-45-USGS-TW4 6/25/2007 7–11 <7.5 1,150 <7.5 <6.25 1,140 <6.25 <6.25 157 2,160 <6.25 13.2J 37.3 <6.25 6.05 823 31.22

PAI-45-USGS-TW5 6/25/2007 6–10.5 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.31 315 30.48

PAI-45-USGS-TW6 6/25/2007 7–11 <7.5 1,450 <7.5 <6.25 1,420 <6.25 <6.25 114 1,760 <6.25 28.1 189 <6.25 6.08 810 30.11

PAI-45-USGS-TW7 6/25/2007 7–11 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.31 284 29.56

PAI-45-USGS-TW8 6/25/2007 7.5–11.5 <6 1,030 <6 <5 1,010 <5 <5 <5 226 <5 23.4 212 <5 6.04 918 29.59

PAI-45-USGS-TW9 6/25/2007 7.5–11.5 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.38 303 29.16

PAI-45-USGS-TW10 6/25/2007 0–10 <15 3,000 <15 <12.5 2,960 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 898 <12.5 41.6J 362 <12.5 6.29 822 30.87PAI-45-USGS-TW11 6/25/2007 7.75–

11.75

<0.3 41.6 <0.3 <0.25 41.6 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 4.22 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.74 1,030 28.26

PAI-45-USGS-TW12 6/25/2007 7.5–10.5 <0.6 144 <0.6 <0.5 142 <0.5 <0.5 31.8 195 <0.5 2.25 4.07 <0.5 5.94 750 28.56

PAI-45-USGS-TW13 6/25/2007 6–10 <15 1,180 <15 <12.5 1,180 <12.5 <12.5 315 2,760 <12.5 <15 <25 <12.5 5.75 1,300 27.98

PAI-45-USGS-TW14 6/25/2007 6–10 <7.5 2,240 <7.5 <6.25 2,190 <6.25 <6.25 149 1,720 <6.25 53.7 356 <6.25 5.72 563 28.65

PAI-45-USGS-TW15 6/25/2007 6–10 <30 8,570 <30 <25 8,380 <25 <25 3,480 8,700 <25 196 2,290 <25 6.82 829 28.93

PAI-45-USGS-TW16 6/25/2007 6–10 <6 1,180 <6 <5 1,160 <5 <5 <5 557 <5 23.7 <10 <5 5.74 9,000 29.06PAI-45-USGS-TW17 6/25/2007 6.5–10.5 <3 830 <3 <2.5 815 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 176 <2.5 15.5 <5 <2.5 6.1 2,100 27.46PAI-45-USGS-TW18 6/25/2007 12–14.5 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.59 460 27.45

PAI-45-USGS-TW19 6/25/2007 8–12 <0.3 37.5 <0.3 <0.25 37.1 <0.25 <0.25 0.26J 1.94 <0.25 0.42J 0.68J <0.25 6.06 289 26.05

PAI-45-USGS-TW20 6/25/2007 8–12 <0.3 0.4J <0.3 <0.25 0.4J <0.25 0.404J <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.92 232 24.8
62 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Appendix 6. Concentrations of groundwater constituents in temporary wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008.—Continued [ft BLS, feet below land surface; 1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; SC, specific conductance at 25 °C; TOC, total organic carbon; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; μg/L, micrograms per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, Celsius; *, analysis was done by Microseeps, Inc, and is an approximation only. All other analyses were done by General Engineering Laboratory] Well name Date (month/ day/year) Depth (ft BLS) 1,1-DCE (μg/L) 1,2-DCE (μg/L) Benzene (μg/L) CB (μg/L)

cDCE

(μg/L)

EB

(μg/L)

Napht

(μg/L)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

Tol

(μg/L)

tDCE

(μg/L)

VC

(μg/L)

Xyl

(μg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm 

at 25 °C

Temp.

(°C)

PAI-45-USGS-TW21 6/25/2007 11–15 <0.3 5.23 0.95J <0.25 5.23 <0.25 6.98 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.83 357 24.79

PAI-45-USGS-TW22 6/25/2007 6–10 <1.5 262 <1.5 <1.25 260 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 38.3 <1.25 2.36J 3.01J <1.25 5.82 1,350 27.31

PAI-45-USGS-TW23 6/25/2007 6–10 <0.6 176 <0.6 <0.5 174 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 23.9 <0.5 1.91J 5.48 <0.5 5.84 1,730 27.07

PAI-45-USGS-TW24 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 10.6 <0.3 <0.25 10.6 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 17.6 <0.25 <0.3 0.75J <0.25 6.42 777 25.53

PAI-45-USGS-TW25 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <1.5 241 <1.5 <1.25 239 <1.25 <1.25 3.45J 231 <1.25 2.17J <2.5 <1.25 5.84 1,830 27.03PAI-45-USGS-TW26 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 1.89 1.71 <0.25 1.89 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.02 2,090 27.8

PAI-45-USGS-TW27 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <1.5 342 <1.5 <1.25 339 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 155 <1.25 2.15J <2.5 <1.25 5.91 1,820 29.35

PAI-45-USGS-TW28 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <1.5 214 <1.5 <1.25 214 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 <1.5 4.11J <1.25

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW29 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 3.71 <0.3 <0.25 3.71 <0.25 <0.25 4.95 1.34 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.4 2,490 24.22PAI-45-USGS-TW30 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 14.1 <0.3 <0.25 14.1 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 6.95 <0.25 <0.3 0.99J <0.25 5.99 1,010 26.45

PAI-45-USGS-TW31 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 14.1 <0.3 <0.25 13.8 <0.25 <0.25 2.12 16.4 <0.25 0.36J 6.48 <0.25 6.16 2,540 25.91PAI-45-USGS-TW32 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 11.9 <0.3 <0.25 11.9 <0.25 <0.25 1.57 19 <0.25 <0.3 6.87 <0.25 6.11 2,160 24.66PAI-45-USGS-TW33 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.6 79.3 <0.6 <0.5 79.3 <0.5 1.32J 21.4 177 <0.5 <0.6 <1 <0.5 5.84 1,900 27.22PAI-45-USGS-TW34 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 5.34 <0.3 <0.25 5.34 <0.25 <0.25 1.49 3.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.89 1,790 28.2

PAI-45-USGS-TW35 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.14 2,810 29.49

PAI-45-USGS-TW36 6/25/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.6 7.68 4.17 <0.5 7.68 1.21J 81.9 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.6 <1 1.97J 6.02 857 27.24

PAI-45-USGS-TW37 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 3.5 <0.3 <0.25 3.5 <0.25 <0.25 1.43 3.27 <0.25 <0.3 1.41 <0.25 5.86 7,200 23.79

PAI-45-USGS-TW37R 6/27/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 3.26 <0.3 <0.25 3.26 <0.25 <0.25 1.33 3.17 <0.25 <0.3 1.18 <0.25

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW38 6/27/2007 10–14 <0.3 9.51 <0.3 <0.25 9.51 <0.25 <0.25 93.9 21.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.95 4,040 28.4

PAI-45-USGS-TW38R 6/27/2007 10–14 <0.3 10.5 <0.3 <0.25 10.5 <0.25 <0.25 105 23.2 <0.25 <0.3 0.51J <0.25

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW39 6/27/2007 10–14 <30 628 <30 <25 628 <25 <25 5,240 7,600 <25 <30 <50 

(200*)

<25 6.16 2,260 26.95

PAI-45-USGS-TW39R 6/27/2007 10–14 <30 604 <30 <25 604 <25 <25 5,050 7,210 <25 <30 <50 <25

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW40 6/27/2007 10–14 <0.3 14.3 <0.3 <0.25 14.3 <0.25 <0.25 0.26J 6.44 <0.25 <0.3 4.75 <0.25 5.91 3,370 28.84PAI-45-USGS-TW41 6/27/2007 10–14 <0.3 2.62 <0.3 2.87 2.62 <0.25 <0.25 0.798J 0.36J <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 584 483 26.92
Appendix 6

63

Appendix 6. Concentrations of groundwater constituents in temporary wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008.—Continued[ft BLS, feet below land surface; 1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; SC, specific conductance at 25 °C; TOC, total organic carbon; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; μg/L, micrograms per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, Celsius; *, analysis was done by Microseeps, Inc, and is an approximation only. All other analyses were done by General Engineering Laboratory]

Well name

Date

(month/

day/year)

Depth

(ft BLS)

1,1-DCE

(μg/L)

1,2-DCE

(μg/L)

Benzene

(μg/L)

CB

(μg/L)

cDCE

(μg/L)

EB

(μg/L)

Napht

(μg/L)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

Tol

(μg/L)

tDCE

(μg/L)

VC

(μg/L)

Xyl

(μg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm 

at 25 °C

Temp.

(°C)

PAI-45-USGS-TW42 6/27/2007 10–14 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.7 7,410 28.84PAI-45-USGS-TW43 6/27/2007 10–14 <0.3 9.28 <0.3 <0.25 8.95 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 6.72 <0.25 0.32J 3.13 <0.25 5.94 8,240 25.71

PAI-45-USGS-TW44 6/27/2007 10–14 <30 760 <30 <25 760 <25 <25 17,100 6,100 <25 <30 201 <25 6.63 635 27.62

PAI-45-USGS-TW45 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 <0.3 6.05 <0.3 <0.25 6.05 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.44 3,540 25.59PAI-45-USGS-TW46 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 <0.3 0.52J <0.3 <0.25 0.52J <0.25 <0.25 1.69 0.26J <0.25 <0.3 0.58J <0.25 5.74 14,800 26.1

PAI-45-USGS-TW47 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 <300 <300 <300 <250 <300 <250 <250 62,400 4,020 <250 <300 <500 <250 6.26 797 27.23

PAI-45-USGS-TW48 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 <30 2,180 <30 <25 2,180 <25 <25 10,200 7,590 <25 <30 342 <25 6.08 1,330 28.74

PAI-45-USGS-TW49 6/27/2007 10–14 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.22 911 27.42PAI-45-USGS-TW50 6/27/2007 11–15 <1.2 180 <1.2 1.26J 180 <1 <1 <1 22.2 <1 <1.2 3.72J <1 5.74 1,040 25.24

PAI-45-USGS-TW51 6/27/2007 10.5–14.5 <12 147 <12 <10 147 <10 <10 315 2,270 <10 <12 <20 <10 5.71 916 24.21

PAI-45-USGS-TW52 6/27/2007 11–15 <30 472 <30 <25 472 <25 <25 <25 5,530 <25 <30 <50 <25 5.87 1,330 27.17

PAI-45-USGS-TW53 6/27/2007 11–15 <30 1,640 <30 <25 1,640 <25 <25 4,780 7,360 <25 <30 377 <25 6 1,890 24.68

PAI-45-USGS-TW54 6/27/2007 11–15 <3 776 <3 <2.5 771 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 3.59J <2.5 5.71J 70.8 <2.5 6.04 3,560 23.99

PAI-45-USGS-TW55 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 0.62J <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 0.27J 0.69J <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.69 982 23.65

PAI-45-USGS-TW56 6/28/2007 11–15 <7.5 1,240 <7.5 <6.25 1,240 <6.25 <6.25 526 2,110 <6.25 <7.5 14.4J <6.25 5.84 862 27.74PAI-45-USGS-TW57 6/28/2007 11–15 <3 800 <3 <2.5 800 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 <3 133 <2.5 6.03 1,170 26.12PAI-45-USGS-TW58 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 9.71 <0.3 <0.25 9.71 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 3.09 <0.25 6.83 3,810 27.58PAI-45-USGS-TW58R 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 9.14 <0.3 <0.25 9.14 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 2.77 <0.25 — — —

PAI-45-USGS-TW59 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 5.12 <0.3 <0.25 5.12 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 1.29 <0.25 6.61 2,090 24.61PAI-45-USGS-TW60 6/28/2007 10–14 <0.3 10.2 <0.3 1.16 10.2 <0.25 <0.25 0.359J 5.24 <0.25 <0.3 4.43 0.29J 5.85 888 24.49PAI-45-USGS-TW61 6/28/2007 11–15 <3 511 <3 <2.5 511 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 11.9 <2.5 <3 10.3 <2.5 5.95 1,410 27.27

PAI-45-USGS-TW61R 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 <3 511 <3 <2.5 511 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 12.7 <2.5 <3 <5 <2.5 — — —

PAI-45-USGS-TW62 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.3 52.8 <0.3 0.82J 52.1 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.75J <0.25 0.72J 7.31 <0.25 6.36 5,310 29.22

PAI-45-USGS-TW63 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 <15 783 <15 <12.5 750 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 4,100 <12.5 32.4J 30J <12.5 6.27 1,260 25.7

PAI-45-USGS-TW63R 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 <15 769 <15 <12.5 738 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 3,960 <12.5 30.5J <25 <12.5 — — —
64 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Appendix 6. Concentrations of groundwater constituents in temporary wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008.—Continued [ft BLS, feet below land surface; 1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; SC, specific conductance at 25 °C; TOC, total organic carbon; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; μg/L, micrograms per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, Celsius; *, analysis was done by Microseeps, Inc, and is an approximation only. All other analyses were done by General Engineering Laboratory] Well name Date (month/ day/year) Depth (ft BLS) 1,1-DCE (μg/L) 1,2-DCE (μg/L) Benzene (μg/L) CB (μg/L)

cDCE

(μg/L)

EB

(μg/L)

Napht

(μg/L)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

Tol

(μg/L)

tDCE

(μg/L)

VC

(μg/L)

Xyl

(μg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm 

at 25 °C

Temp.

(°C)

PAI-45-USGS-TW64 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 <0.6 110 <0.6 <0.5 110 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.89J <0.5 <0.6 <1 <0.5 6.38 2,840 28.78

PAI-45-USGS-TW65 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 <1.5 6.2 5.36 <1.25 6.2 3.81J 397 <1.25 <1.25 <1.25 <1.5 <2.5 6.55 6.83 367 24.5PAI-45-USGS-TW66 6/28/2007 11.5–15.5 <3 833 <3 <2.5 833 <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 183 <2.5 <3 15 <2.5 5.97 2,040 26.44

PAI-45-USGS-TW67 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 8.88 <0.3 2.62 8.88 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 19.4 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6 1,000 25.36

PAI-45-USGS-TW68 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 4.76 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 1.04 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 6.01 946 25.18PAI-45-USGS-TW68R 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 4.76 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 1 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW69 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.76 28,500 28.43

PAI-45-USGS-TW70 6/28/2007 11–15 <0.3 4.21 <0.3 <0.25 4.21 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25 5.82 10,600 28.66

PAI-45-USGS-TW71 8/29/2007 8–12 <0.3 0.5J 2.66 <0.25 0.5J <0.25 119 <0.25 <0.25 0.759J <0.3 <0.5 0.77J

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW72 8/29/2007 11–15 <6 39.7 <6 <5 39.7 <5 <5 2,380 1,180 <5 <6 <10 <5

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW74 8/29/2007 11–15 <0.3 16.7 <0.3 <0.25 16.7 <0.25 <0.25 7.73 35.3 <0.25 <0.3 1.35 <0.25

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW75 8/29/2007 1–14 <3 653 <3 <2.5 653 <2.5 5.94J <2.5 21.1 <2.5 <3 6.24J <2.5

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW76 8/29/2007 11–15 <3 526 <3 <2.5 526 <2.5 7.55J <2.5 <2.5 <2.5 <3 24.2 <2.5

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW77 3/5/2008 7–11 <0.3 50.1 <0.3 1.55 47.9 <0.25 <0.25 0.35J 20.5 <12.5 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25

— 523 20.88

PAI-45-USGS-TW77 3/5/2008 11–15 <15 381 <15 <12.5 365 <12.5 <12.5 454 3,470 <0.25 <12.5 <15 <12.5

— 1,650 21.64

PAI-45-USGS-TW77R 3/5/2008 11–15 <15 460 <15 <12.5 440 <12.5 <12.5 408 3,530 <12.5 <12.5 <15 <12.5

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW78 3/5/2008 7–11 <0.3 118 <0.3 1.97 117 <0.25 <0.25 10.1 45.5 <12.5 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25

— 446 20.63

PAI-45-USGS-TW78 3/5/2008 11–15 <15 795 <15 <12.5 761 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5 3,200 <0.25 <12.5 <15 <12.5

— 1,970 21.48

PAI-45-USGS-TW79 3/5/2008 11–15 14.2 409 <0.3 <0.25 562 0.88J <0.25 23,000B 7,160 3.63 3.63 2.56 1.34

— 4,910 22.71

PAI-45-USGS-TW80 3/5/2008 7–11 <3 82.6 <3 <2.5 82.6 <2.5 <2.5 366 732 <25 <2.5 <3 <2.5

— 444 20.4

PAI-45-USGS-TW80 3/5/2008 11–15 <30 112 <30 <25 112 <25 <25 6,170B 2,160 <2.5 <25 <30 <25

— 6,620 22.15

PAI-45-USGS-TW81 3/5/2008 7–11 <0.3 117 <0.3 2.43 107 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 19.9 <6.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25

— 453 20.72

PAI-45-USGS-TW81 3/5/2008 11–15 <7.5 599 <7.5 <6.25 573 <6.25 <6.25 14.0J 1,510 <0.25 <6.25 <7.5 <6.25

— 1,710 21.15

PAI-45-USGS-TW81R 3/5/2008 11–15 <7.5 583 <7.5 <6.25 558 <6.25 <6.25 12.5J 1,510 <6.25 <6.25 <7.5 <6.25

—

—

—

PAI-45-USGS-TW82 3/4/2008 11–15 <15 411 <15 <12.5 411 <12.5 <12.5 53.7 2720 <12.5 <12.5 <15 <12.5

— 3,710 20.85
Appendix 6

65

Appendix 6. Concentrations of groundwater constituents in temporary wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2006–2008.—Continued[ft BLS, feet below land surface; 1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; SC, specific conductance at 25 °C; TOC, total organic carbon; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; —, not analyzed; J, estimated concentration; μg/L, micrograms per liter; S.U., standard units; μS/cm at 25 °C, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, Celsius; *, analysis was done by Microseeps, Inc, and is an approximation only. All other analyses were done by General Engineering Laboratory]

Well name

Date

(month/

day/year)

Depth

(ft BLS)

1,1-DCE

(μg/L)

1,2-DCE

(μg/L)

Benzene

(μg/L)

CB

(μg/L)

cDCE

(μg/L)

EB

(μg/L)

Napht

(μg/L)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

Tol

(μg/L)

tDCE

(μg/L)

VC

(μg/L)

Xyl

(μg/L)

pH

(S.U.)

SC

(μS/cm 

at 25 °C

Temp.

(°C)

PAI-45-USGS-TW83 3/5/2008 11–15 <0.3 57.5 <0.3 <0.25 55 <0.25 <0.25 29.2 415 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 3,970 20.03

PAI-45-USGS-TW84 3/5/2008 11–15 <0.3 18.4 <0.3 <0.25 17.6 <0.25 <0.25 361 63.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 4,700 19.73

PAI-45-USGS-TW85 3/5/2008 11–15 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 1.88B 0.97J <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 12,200 22.51PAI-45-USGS-TW86 3/5/2008 11–15 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 7.29B 2.12 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 9,040 21.8PAI-45-USGS-TW87 3/4/2008 11–15 <0.3 146 <0.3 <0.25 158 <0.25 <0.25 17.2 420 <0.25 <0.25 1 <0.25 — 2,870 21.31

PAI-45-USGS-TW88 3/4/2008 11–15 <0.3 20.8 <0.3 <0.25 19.9 <0.25 <0.25 18.5 56.7 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 3,560 21.29

PAI-45-USGS-TW89 3/4/2008 11–15 <0.3 268 <0.3 <0.25 257 <0.25 <0.25 83.6 406 <0.25 <0.25 1.24 <0.25 — 2,180 21.42

PAI-45-USGS-TW90 3/4/2008 11–15 <0.3 154 <0.3 <0.25 164 <0.25 <0.25 37 342 <0.25 <0.25 0.72J <0.25 — 2,860 21.85PAI-45-USGS-TW91 3/5/2008 11–15 <0.3 20.2 <0.3 <0.25 19.3 <0.25 <0.25 24.7 47.4 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 3,630 18.9PAI-45-USGS-TW92 3/4/2008 11–15 <6 1,330 <6 <5 1,270 <5 <5 201 796 <5 <5 <6 <5 — 2,340 22.64PAI-45-USGS-TW93 3/4/2008 4.5–8 <0.3 88.3 <0.3 <0.25 83.3 <0.25 <0.25 34.7 67.7 <0.25 0.28J 1.29 <0.25 — — —

PAI-45-USGS-TW93 3/4/2008 11–15 <0.3 97.5 <0.3 <0.25 93.3 <0.25 <0.25 22.8 191 0.28J <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 4,120 23.15PAI-45-USGS-TW94 3/5/2008 7–11 <0.3 213 <0.3 1.69 254 <0.25 <0.25 331 863 1.05 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 424 20.43PAI-45-USGS-TW94 3/5/2008 11–15 3.51 323 <0.3 <0.25 413 <0.25 <0.25 754B 5,020 <0.25 1.05 2.07 <0.25 — 4,960 21.59

PAI-45-USGS-TW95 3/5/2008 11–15 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 — 915 22.05
66 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Appendix 7. Concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in soil borings from temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW7, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008. [ft BLS, feet below land surface; 1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; <, less than; R, duplicate sample; J, estimated concentration; μg/kg, micrograms per kilogram; all data are dry-weight corrected] Site identifier Date (month/ day/year) Depth (ft BLS) Percent moisture 1,1-DCE (μg/kg) 1,2-DCE (μg/kg) Benzene (μg/kg) CB (μg/kg)

cDCE

(μg/kg)

EB

(μg/kg)

Napht

(μg/kg)

PCE

(μg/kg)

TCE

(μg/kg)

Tol

(μg/kg)

tDCE

(μg/kg)

VC

(μg/kg)

Xyl

(μg/kg)

PAI-45-USGS-TW96 4/30/2008 10–12 25.5 0.75J 211 <0.65 <0.39 411 <0.39 <0.39 1,990 4,640 0.59J 3.22 15.1 1.08J

PAI-45-USGS-TW96R 4/30/2008 10–12 24.3 1.1J 248 <0.38 <0.23 330 0.30J <0.23 1,750 3,560 1.01J 4.09 22.3 1.14J

PAI-45-USGS-TW96 4/30/2008 15–16 27.6 <0.27 <0.27 <0.27 <0.18 <0.27 <0.18 <0.18 0.46J <0.22 <0.26 <0.27 <0.45 0.5J
Appendix 9 67

Appendix 8. Concentrations of total organic carbon in soil borings, Marine Corps Recruit 

Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008.

[ft BLS, feet below land surface; mg/kg, milligrams per kilogram]

Site identifier

Date 

(month/day/

year)

Depth 

(ft BLS)

Total organic 

carbon 

(mg/kg)

Lithology

PAI-45-MW26-SL 6/27/2008 10–15 128 Fine-grained sand

PAI-45-MW28-D 8/26/2008 18 155,000 Organic-rich clay

PAI-45-USGS-TW96 4/30/2008 8–10 440 Grayish-tan, fine-grained 

heaving sand

PAI-45-USGS-TW96 4/30/2008 12–13 2,120 Black fine-grained sand

Appendix 9. Concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in surface water near the outfall to Ballast Creek, Site 45, 

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, June 17, 2008.

[1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; 

PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; <, less than; R, duplicate 

sample; J, estimated concentration; μg/L, micrograms per liter]

Site 

identifier

Date 

(month/

day/year)

Time

(minutes 

before 

low tide)

1,1-DCE

(μg/L)

1,2-DCE

(μg/L)

Benzene

(μg/L)

CB

(μg/L)

cDCE

(μg/L)

EB

(μg/L)

Napht

(μg/L)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

Tol

(μg/L)

tDCE

(μg/L)

VC

(μg/L)

Xyl

(μg/L)

PAI-SW1 6/16/2008 30 <0.3 1.6 <0.3 <0.25 1.6 <0.25 0.33J 0.44J 1.29 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-SW1-R 6/16/2008 30 <0.3 1.7 <0.3 <0.25 1.7 <0.25 <0.25 0.48J 1.34 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-SW2 6/16/2008 5 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-SW3 6/16/2008 6 <0.3 0.7J <0.3 <0.25 0.73J <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 0.6J <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25

PAI-SW4 6/16/2008 22 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.25 <0.3 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.25 <0.3 <0.5 <0.25
68 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 10. Concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in sediment near the outfall to Ballast Creek, 

Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, June 17, 2008.

[1,1-DCE, 1,1-dichloroethene; 1,2-DCE, total 1,2-dichloroethene; CB, chlorobenzene; cDCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene; EB, ethylbenzene; Napht, naphthalene; 

PCE, tetrachloroethene; TCE, trichloroethene; Tol, toluene; tDCE, trans-1,2-dichloroethene; VC, vinyl chloride; Xyl, total xylenes; mg/kg, milligrams per 

kilogram; <, less than; J, estimated concentration; all data are reported as dry-weight corrected]

Site identifier

Date 

(month/

day/year)

Depth 

below 

sediment/

water 

interface

(feet)

Moisture

(percent)

1,1-DCE

(mg/kg)

Benzene

(mg/kg)

CB

(mg/kg)

cDCE

(mg/kg)

EB

(mg/kg)

PCE

(mg/kg)

TCE

(mg/kg)

Tol

(mg/kg)

tDCE

(mg/kg)

VC

(mg/kg)

Xyl

(mg/kg)

PAI-SWSED1 6/17/2008 0.5 68.5 <0.68 <0.75 <0.45 <0.68 <0.45 <0.45 <0.57 0.67J <0.68 <1.13 <0.45

PAI-SWSED1 6/17/2008 1 57.2 <49 <54 <32 <49 <32 <32 <41 <47 <49 <81 <32

PAI-SWSED2 6/17/2008 0.5 57.7 <0.57 <0.63 <0.38 <0.57 <0.38 <0.38 <0.48 <0.55 <0.57 <0.95 <0.38

PAI-SWSED2 6/17/2008 1 58 <0.45 <0.5 <0.30 <0.45 <0.3 <0.30 <0.38 <0.44 <0.45 <0.75 <0.3

PA-ISWSED3 6/17/2008 0.5 73.3 <0.86 <0.95 <0.58 <0.86 <0.58 <0.58 <0.72 <0.83 <0.86 <1.44 <0.58

PAI-SWSED3 6/17/2008 1 71 <0.59 <0.65 <0.4 <0.59 0.75J <0.4 <0.49 3.96 <0.59 <0.99 <0.4

PAI-SWSED4 6/17/2008 0.5 60.2 <0.74 <0.81 <0.49 <0.74 <0.49 <0.49 <0.62 <0.71 <0.74 <1.23 <0.49

PAI-SWSED4 6/17/2008 1 61.6 <0.54 <0.6 <0.36 <0.54 <0.36 <0.36 <0.45 <0.52 <0.54 <0.9 <0.36
Appendix 11 69

Appendix 11. Synoptic water-level measurements at approximately low tide in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, 2007–2008.—Continued

[MP, measuring point altitude in feet relative to North American Vertical Datum of 1988; —, data not collected; all top-of-casing altitudes were determined by 

Andrews and Burgess, Inc., in 2008; *, Datum was changed on these wells. Prior to July 3, 2008, the datum was 5.33 feet for well PAI-45-MW26-SL and 6.405 

feet for well PAI-45-MW27-SL]

Well identifier MP

Water-level altitude, in feet relative to North American Vertical Datum of 1988

April 30, 2007 August 7, 2007 August 29, 2007 June 16, 2008 June 27, 2008 July 25, 2008

PAI-45-MW01-D 6.60 1.72 — 2.03 1.31 1.20 1.83

PAI-45-MW01-SL 6.52 3.15 — 3.54 3.60 3.46 —

PAI-45-MW01-SU 6.54 3.12 — 3.57 3.57 3.45 —

PAI-45-MW02-SL 6.22 2.96 4.34 3.39 3.17 3.01 —

PAI-45-MW02-SU 6.12 2.67 4.31 3.12 2.66 2.73 —

PAI-45-MW03-SL 6.54 2.75 3.97 3.12 2.87 2.70 —

PAI-45-MW03-SU 6.59 2.52 4.39 3.12 2.57 2.58 —

PAI-45-MW04-D 5.78 1.59 — 1.92 1.21 1.09 1.71

PAI-45-MW04-SL 5.91 2.45 3.57 2.73 2.45 2.32 —

PAI-45-MW04-SU 5.93 2.45 3.59 2.74 2.47 2.34 —

PAI-45-MW05-D 7.63 1.61 — 1.93 1.19 1.07 1.69

PAI-45-MW05-SL 7.24 2.45 3.36 2.84 2.45 2.32 —

PAI-45-MW05-SU 7.59 2.42 3.33 2.71 2.42 2.29 —

PAI-45-MW06-D 6.44 1.64 — 1.96 1.23 1.09 1.74

PAI-45-MW06-SL 6.48 2.73 3.91 3.11 2.87 2.70 —

PAI-45-MW06-SU 6.52 2.87 3.44 3.12 2.90 2.85 —

PAI-45-MW07-D 6.63 1.66 — 1.97 1.25 1.12 1.75

PAI-45-MW07-SL 6.68 2.80 4.04 3.17 2.97 2.82 —

PAI-45-MW07-SU 6.63 2.79 4.04 3.15 2.95 2.80 —

PAI-45-MW08-SL 6.50 2.90 4.16 3.30 4.19 3.05 —

PAI-45-MW08-SU 6.57 2.81 4.15 3.29 3.17 3.02 —

PAI-45-MW09-D 6.24 1.60 — 1.89 1.15 1.04 1.67

PAI-45-MW10-D 6.25 — — — — 1.18 1.81

PAI-45-MW10-SL 5.85 2.69 3.98 3.03 2.76 2.62 —

PAI-45-MW10-SU 5.90 2.67 3.86 3.02 2.78 2.61 —

PAI-45-MW11-D 5.43 1.36 — 1.37 1.67 -0.13 0.77

PAI-45-MW13-SL 6.39 2.57 3.68 2.87 2.61 2.46 —

PAI-45-MW13-SU 6.48 2.53 4.01 2.87 2.62 2.43 —

PAI-45-MW14-SL 5.76 2.73 3.67 3.08 2.84 2.71 —

PAI-45-MW14-SU 5.84 2.59 3.41 2.83 2.60 2.50 —
70 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 11. Synoptic water-level measurements at approximately low tide in monitoring wells, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, 2007–2008.—Continued

[MP, measuring point altitude in feet relative to North American Vertical Datum of 1988; —, data not collected; all top-of-casing altitudes were determined by 

Andrews and Burgess, Inc., in 2008; *, Datum was changed on these wells. Prior to July 3, 2008, the datum was 5.33 feet for well PAI-45-MW26-SL and 6.405 

feet for well PAI-45-MW27-SL]

Well identifier MP

Water-level altitude, in feet relative to North American Vertical Datum of 1988

April 30, 2007 August 7, 2007 August 29, 2007 June 16, 2008 June 27, 2008 July 25, 2008

PAI-45-MW15-SL 8.13 2.72 3.72 3.03 2.68 2.56 —

PAI-45-MW15-SU 8.32 2.71 3.70 2.99 2.66 2.53 —

PAI-45-MW16-SL 9.17 2.44 3.35 2.75 2.38 2.29 —

PAI-45-MW16-SU 9.14 2.35 3.28 2.64 2.29 2.18 —

PAI-45-MW17-SL 5.96 2.68 3.11 2.32 2.10 1.97 —

PAI-45-MW17-SU 6.17 2.25 3.12 2.35 2.12 1.98 —

PAI-45-MW18-SL 6.98 2.53 3.53 2.71 2.43 2.30 —

PAI-45-MW18-SU 6.99 3.01 3.77 3.06 2.84 2.72 —

PAI-45-MW19-SL 5.64 2.68 3.82 2.98 2.71 2.55 —

PAI-45-MW19-SU 5.64 2.60 3.77 2.91 2.62 2.48 —

PAI-45-MW20-SL 6.67 2.23 3.29 2.49 2.21 2.11 —

PAI-45-MW20-SU 6.72 2.25 3.29 2.46 2.22 2.11 —

PAI-45-MW21-D 6.27 1.67 — 1.98 1.24 1.15 1.77

PAI-45-MW21-SL 6.27 2.88 — 3.28 3.06 2.93 —

PAI-45-MW21-SU 6.37 2.86 4.30 3.28 3.05 2.90 —

PAI-45-MW22-SL 6.43 2.99 4.37 3.42 3.30 3.17 —

PAI-45-MW22-SU 6.51 3.65 4.28 3.37 3.23 3.09 —

PAI-45-MW23-SL 6.28 2.64 3.43 3.05 2.64 2.67 —

PAI-45-MW23-SU 6.37 2.65 3.59 2.98 2.72 2.62 —

PAI-45-MW24-SU 6.62 2.93 3.91 3.30 3.11 2.97 —

PAI-45-MW25-SL 6.64 — — — 3.40 3.22 —

PAI-45-MW26-SL* 5.61 — — — 2.14 2.05 —

PAI-45-MW27-SL* 6.58 — — — 2.24 2.10 —

PAI-45-MW28-D 5.48 — — — 1.24 1.14 1.78

PAI-45-MW29-D 5.18 — — — 1.22 1.14 1.81

PAI-45-MW30-D 8.05 — — — 1.23 1.14 1.77

PAI-45-MW31-SL 5.49 — — — 2.91 2.74 —

PAI-45-MW31-SU 5.57 — — — 2.93 2.76 —
Appendix 12 71

Appendix 12. Lithologic logs for permanent wells at site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008.

[ft, feet; BLS, below land surface; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Permanent well PAI-45-MW28-D

Date: June 2–4, 2008

Method: Hollow-stem auger to 19 ft BLS, Mud-rotary below 19 ft.

Driller: EarthCon

Core Description: Don Vroblesky, USGS

Split spoons

June 2, 2008

Core interval (ft BLS) Recovery (ft) Depth (ft BLS) Description

 2–4 2 2.0–2.6 Silty clay, black

2.6–4.0 Sand, fine-grained, brown

 4–6 2 4.0–5.3 Silty sand, fine-grained, gray with patches of brown silty sand, 

possibly burrow fills

 5.3–6.0 Silty sand, fine-grained, fewer brown patches than above

 6–8 1.5 6.0–6.5 Sand, fine-grained, gray with patches of brown fine-grained sand

 6.5–7.5 Sand, fine-grained, gray, loose

 7.5–8.0 Missing

 8–10 2 8.0–10.0 Sand, fine-grained, very loose, very wet, grayish-tan

 10–12 2 10.0–11.4 Sand, fine-grained, very loose, very wet, grayish-tan

 11.4–12.0 Silty sand, fine-grained, dark gray

 12–14 2 12.0–14.0 Silty sand, fine-grained, dark gray

 16–18 2 16.0–17.8 Silty sand, fine-grained, dark gray

 17.8–18.0 Clay, organic-rich, dark gray

 18–19 1 18.0–18.8 Clay, organic-rich, dark gray

 18.8–19.0 Sandy clay, dark gray

Stopped at 19 ft to set outer casing. Grouted from 18.6 ft BLS to land surface

General description from mud-rotary cuttings

June 4, 2008

Interval (ft BLS) Description

 19–21.5 Clay

 21.5–32 Sand, fine-grained

 32–33.5 Shelly material in fine-grained sand

 33.5–34 Hard drilling, still looks like shelly material

Set screen 23.7 to 33.7 ft BLS. Grouted from 18.5 ft BLS to land surface.

Permanent well PAI-45-MW29-D

Date: June 3, 2008

Method: Hollow-stem auger to 19 ft BLS, Mud-rotary below 19 ft.

Driller: EarthCon

Core Description: Don Vroblesky, USGS

Split spoons

June 2, 2008

Core interval (ft BLS) Recovery (ft) Depth (ft BLS) Description

 15–17 2 15–17 Sand, very loose, fine-grained, gray, wet 

17–18.8 1.8 17–18.8 Same as above

18.8–19 0.2 18.8–19 Silt, organic rich

Stopped at 19 ft BLS to set outer casing. Final casing set at 19.6 ft BLS. Grouted 19.6 ft to land surface.
72 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Permanent well PAI-45-MW29-D—Continued

General description from mud-rotary cuttings

June 4, 2008

Interval (ft BLS) Description

20(?)–21 Sand, fine-grained, gray

21–28.5 Clay

28.5–29 Shelly material in fine-grained to silty sand

30–33 Sand, fine-grained to silty, with shells

Set screen 23.1 to 33.1 ft BLS. Grouted from 17 ft BLS to land surface.

Permanent well PAI-45-MW30-D

Date: June 4–5, 2008

Method: Hollow-stem auger to 20 ft BLS, Mud-rotary below 20 ft.

Driller: EarthCon

Core Description: Don Vroblesky, USGS

Split spoons

June 4, 2008

Core interval (ft BLS) Recovery (ft) Depth (ft BLS) Description

0–15 No split spoons

15–17 2 15.0–17.0 Silty sand, fine-grained

 17–19 2 17.0–17.8 Silty sand, fine-grained

 17.8–18.7 Clay, loose, with thin (0.05 inch) of fine-grained gray sand

 18.7–18.9 Clay, gray with abundant shell fragments

 18.9–19.0 Organic-rich clay, sharp upper contact

 19–20 1 19.0–19.9 Organic-rich clay 

 19.9–20.0 Organic-rich clay, very tight

Stopped at 20 ft BLS to set outer casing. Grouted from 20 ft BLS to land surface.

General description from mud-rotary cuttings

June 5, 2008

Interval (ft BLS) Description

20.5–22 Sand 

22–23 Hard drilling 

 23–23.5 Silty sand, wood that does not appear to be from the auger plug

23.5–27 Sand, fine-grained

27–30 Silty sand 

 30–34 Clay

 34–35 Hard drilling, shelly material in silty sand

Set screen 25–35 ft BLS. Grouted from 20 ft BLS to land surface.

Appendix 12. Lithologic logs for permanent wells at site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, 2008.—Continued

[ft, feet; BLS, below land surface; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]
Appendix 13 73

Appendix 13. Lithologic log for temporary well PAI-45-USGS-TW96, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 

Parris Island, South Carolina, April 30, 2008.

[ft, feet; BLS, below land surface; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ppm, parts per million; <, less than; >, greater than]

Date: April 30, 2008

Method: Geoprobe

Driller: James Landmeyer, USGS

Core Description: Don Vroblesky, USGS

Core interval 

(ft BLS)

Recovery 

(ft)

Depth 

(ft BLS) Description

Reading on 

ColorTek 

vapor 

analyzer

(ppm)

 4–5 0.85 4.0–4.8 Silty sand, fine-grained, gray. Exact depth uncertain. <0.2

 6–8 1.8 6.0–6.9 Sandy clay, gray 2

6.9–7.2 Clayey sand, gray

7.2–7.8 Silty sand, fine-grained, brown

7.8–8.0 Silty sand, fine-grained, gray >4

 8–10 1.2 8.0–10.0 Sand, fine-grained, heaving, grayish tan >25

 10–12 1.6 10.4–10.8 Sand, fine-grained, grayish tan

 10.8–12 Sand, fine-grained, black 30

 12–14 1.7 12.3–12.8 Sand, fine-grained, black 40

 12.8–14.0 Sand, fine- to very fine-grained, grayish-brown 10

 14–16 2 14.0–14.8 Sand, fine-grained, gray <0.2

 14.8–15.2 Sand, medium-grained, gray

 15.2–16.0 Silt, with brownish material that appears to be plant matter <0.2
74 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 14–1. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) logs for boring MIP1, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 22, 2008.
Appendix 14 75

Appendix 14–2. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) logs for boring MIP2, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 22, 2008.
76 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 14–3. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) logs for boring MIP3, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 22, 2008.
Appendix 14 77

Appendix 14–4. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) logs for boring MIP4, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 22, 2008.
78 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 14–5. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) logs for boring MIP5, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 22, 2008.
Appendix 14 79

Appendix 14–6. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) logs for boring MIP6, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 22, 2008.
80 Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Appendix 14–7. Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) logs for boring MIP7, Site 45, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 

South Carolina, June 22, 2008.

Prepared by:

USGS Publishing Network

Raleigh Publishing Service Center

3916 Sunset Ridge Road

Raleigh, NC 27607

For additional information regarding this publication, contact:

Don A. Vroblesky, Hydrologist

USGS South Carolina Water Science Center

Stephenson Center, Suite 129

720 Gracern Road

Columbia, SC 29210

email: vroblesk@usgs.gov

Or visit the USGS South Carolina Water Science Center Web site at:

http://sc.water.usgs.gov/

Vroblesky and others—Source, Transport, and Fate of Groundwater Contamination at Site 45, Parris Island, SC—Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5161