Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2015 - EASC 704 G100

Special Topics (3)

Class Number: 5971

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 13, 2015: TBA, TBA
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Permission of the instructor.

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

Groundwater Contamination and Transport

General:   Groundwater contamination can be a significant environmental problem leading to degradation of the quality of fresh water both in the subsurface and where groundwater discharges to surface water bodies. This course introduces the basic principles of contaminant hydrogeology (inorganic and organic contaminants, chemical processes, mass transport processes) and contaminant transport modeling. Analytical solutions for mass transport and numerical solutions (e.g., MT3D) are covered. The course culminates in the development of a numerical transport model and appropriate model documentation to investigate the transport of a contaminant at a well-known contaminated site. The course also explores methodologies for site investigation as well as various remediation methods that have been developed to clean up groundwater.  

Prerequisites: Undergraduate course in aqueous geochemistry and physical hydrogeology. (EASC 315 and EASC 304 equivalents). A course in groundwater flow modeling (EASC 613).

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Course Topics: Groundwater Contamination – sources, inorganics, organics
Mass Transport – saturated zone, unsaturated zone, dissolved and non-aqueous phase liquids, transport equations, processes.
Contaminant Transport Modeling
Site Investigations
Groundwater Remediation  

Course Organization: 1 two-hour lecture and 1 three-hour laboratory. The assignments are based on the theory part of the course, and these will be distributed during lab time. A term project consists of the development of a solute transport model implemented in MT3D (Visual MODFLOW interface).

Grading

  • Assignments 20%
  • Mid-Term Exam 10%
  • Mock Trial Participation 5%
  • Term Project 40%
  • Final Exam 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Fetter, C.W., 1999. Contaminant Hydrogeology, 2nd Edition, Waveland Press, 500 pp.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Selected Readings:
CCME Contaminated Sites Report. Specific readings on contaminant transport modeling.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS