To learn more about the movement of groundwater contamination in rock, scientists from Environment Canada's National Water Research Institute, with support from the Province of Ontario and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are conducting extensive research into the chemical and physical properties of the fractures and the solid rock at the Smithville site. By characterizing the variability of the rock, they are discovering more about the processes that control the migration of contaminants in groundwater. This information is crucial to the design and implementation of complex remediation strategies. An Environment Canada scientist studies rock fractures in an Ontario quarry. Their results show that the properties of rock are highly variable and influence the movement of contaminants.
Some types act as a sponge, storing and releasing contaminants at various times.
Large fractures provide pathways for contaminant transport, primarily in the horizontal direction, and evidence suggests that biological conditions in the subsurface may naturally degrade some of the contaminants. The research has produced detailed, descriptive data of the site that will be used in computer models to assess the effectiveness of various remediation methods. Because the Smithville site is similar to many contaminated sites on the American side of the Niagara River, this research will help scientists and environmental managers in Canada and the United States understand the potential for contaminants to migrate into this international river and eventually into Lake Ontario, and assist in preventing it. All rights reserved.