US Department of Energy Groundwater Database
Groundwater Master Report
| InstallationName, State: | Savannah River Site, SC |
| Responsible DOE Office: | Savannah River Site |
| Plume Name: | H-Area Seepage Basins |
| Remediation Contractor: | Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC |
| PBS Number: | 30 |
| Report Last Updated: | 2013 |
Contaminants
| Halogenated VOCs/SVOCs Present?: | Yes |
| VOC Name | Concentration (ppb) | Regulatory Driver | Cleanup Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCE | 10 | No | 5 |
| TCE | 34 | No | 5 |
| Fuel Present? | No |
| Metals Present? | Yes |
| Isotopes Present? | Yes |
| Explosives Present? | No |
| Other Contaminants? | Yes |
| Tritium Present? | Yes |
| Nitrates Present? | Yes |
| Sulfates Present? | No |
| Name of Metal | Concentration (ppb) | Regulatory Driver | Cleanup Requirement |
| Co | 122 | No | 3 |
| Hg | 9 | Yes | 2 |
| Name of Isotope | Concentration (pCi/l) | Regulatory Driver | Cleanup Requirement |
| I-129 | 52 | Yes | 1 |
| Sr-90 | 425 | Yes | 8 |
| Tc-99 | 214 | Yes | 50 |
| Ra | 5 | No | 5 |
| C-14 | 448 | No | 50 |
| Tritium Present | Activity (p/Ci/l) | Regulatory Driver | Cleanup Requirement |
| Yes | 5,160,000 | Yes | 20,000 |
| Nitrates Present | Concentration (ppb) | Regulatory Driver | Cleanup Requirement |
| Yes | 52,000 | Yes | 10,000 |
| Name of Contaminant | Concentration (ppb or pCi/l) | Regulatory Driver | Cleanup Requirement |
| Gross Alpha | 60 | No | 15 |
| Non-Volatile Beta | 886 | No | 50 |
Hydrogeology
| Conduit Flow? | No | Depth (feet): | 70 |
| Multiple Units Affected? | Yes | Avg Velocity (feet/year): | 100 |
Plume Information
| Source: | Controlled | Area of Plume (acres): | 280 |
| Plume Status: | Plume expanding but not expected to migrate offsite |
Remedial Approach
| Remedy Name | Status | Start Date | End Date | Treatment Status (1) Performing as expected (2) Perf. could be improved (3) Not perf. as expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capping of source | Completed | 1990 | 1992 | |
| Pump and Treat | Completed | 1997 | 2004 | |
| Barrier Walls | Completed | 2004 | 2005 | 1 |
| Base injection | Confirmed | 2009 | 2115 | 1 |
| Silver injection | Confirmed | 2011 | 1 |
Groundwater Use / Exit Strategy
| Potable? | No | Does an Exit Strategy Exist? | No |
| Sole Source Aquifer? | No | Basis for Exit Strategy: |
Environmental Indicators (EIs)
| Groundwater Migration Under Control? | No | Current Human Exposure Acceptable? | Yes |
| Confirmed by Lead Regulator? | Yes | Confirmed by Lead Regulator? | Yes |
Regulatory
| Decision Document Status? | Remedial Approach Proposed | Lead Regulatory Agency: | State |
| Date Approved: | N/A | Regulatory Driver: | RCRA, FFA |
| Regulatory Position on Groundwater Use Same as Site? | No | ||
Comments
| Source control through capping and barriers. No treatment technology for tritium. Metals (radioactive and nonradioactive) affected by pH (large quantities of nitric acid disposal). Base injection will control metals, sediment charge and prepare for technologies to control I-129. I-129 treatment dependent upon success of F Seepage Basin deployment. Decision document in place (RCRA-CAP) with negotiations and R&D being conducted to develop realistic and effective exit strategies. Groundwater GPRA EI “Groundwater migration under control” is No for SRS based on state determination for entire site. |