For more information on Pump and Treat Optimization, please contact:
Kathleen YagerTechnology Integration and Information Branch
PH: (617) 918-8362 | Email: yager.kathleen@epa.gov
Remediation Optimization
Guidance
Optimization Guidance for the General Remediation Community
The following EPA fact sheets are intended for a wide audience within the remediation community, including project managers, regulators, engineers, and hydrogeologists. The information provided in these documents is based on professional experience in operating and overseeing numerous remedies and on lessons learned from conducting Remediation System Evaluations (RSEs) at over 20 Superfund-financed P&T systems. The lessons learned, however, are relevant to almost any P&T system. Therefore, the documents may serve as resources for managers, contractors, or regulators of any P&T system, whether or not that system is within the Superfund Program. These documents are intended to complement, not replace professional expertise.
The fact sheets are not regulations, and therefore, they do not impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, or the regulated community, and may not apply to a particular situation based on site-specific circumstances. The documents offer technical recommendations to EPA, States, and others who manage environmental remedies as part of the Superfund program or other cleanup programs. EPA and State personnel may use other approaches, activities and considerations, either on their own or at the suggestion of interested parties. Interested parties are free to raise questions and objections regarding these documents and the appropriateness of using these recommendations in a particular situation, and EPA will consider whether or not the recommendations are appropriate in that situation. These fact sheets are a living documents and may be revised periodically without public notice. EPA welcomes public comments on these documents at any time and will consider those comments in any future revisions.
A Cost Comparison Framework for Use in Optimizing Ground Water Pump and Treat Systems
EPA 542-R-07-005, May 2007
This fact sheet has been prepared to provide a framework for conducting cost comparisons to evaluate whether or not to pursue potential opportunities from an optimization evaluation for improving, replacing, or supplementing the P&T system. This document presents the following elements that pertain to cost comparisons associated with long-term ground water remedies: applicability of cost comparisons as part of the optimization process, a framework for conducting cost comparisons, and illustrative examples of applying cost comparisons for various scenarios.
Cost Effective Design of Pump and Treat Systems
EPA 542-R-05-008, April 2005
This fact sheet summarizes key aspects to consider for designing cost-effective pump and treat (P&T) systems. Topics include remedy goals and performance monitoring, system design parameters, extraction system considerations, appropriate treatment technologies, discharge options, and system controls.
Effective Contracting Approaches for Operating Pump and Treat Systems
EPA 542-R-05-009, April 2005
This fact sheet summarizes key aspects to consider for contracting to operate pump and treat (P&T) systems. Topics include essential contract components, options for contract type, considerations specific to contracts for operating P&T systems, and incorporation of optimization.
Elements for Effective Management of Operating Pump and Treat Systems
EPA 542-R-02-009, December 2002
This fact sheet summarizes key aspects of effective management for operating pump and treat (P&T) systems. Topics include setting remedy goals, remedy performance, remedy cost effectiveness, contracting considerations, and optimization.
O&M Report Template for Ground Water Remedies (with Emphasis on Pump and Treat Systems)
EPA 542-R-05-010, April 2005
This fact sheet provides a report template that can be used to present information on the operations and maintenance (O&M) of a ground water remedy, particularly those including pump-and-treat (P&T). The template includes various report sections, suggested items to be included in those sections, and example tables and figures.
Optimization Strategies for Long-Term Ground Water Remedies (with Particular Emphasis on Pump and Treat Systems)
EPA 542-R-07-007, May 2007
This fact sheet has been prepared to assist environmental case managers from Federal and State agencies, environmental program managers from private organizations, and environmental contractors with optimization of operating long-term ground water remedies, particularly those that involve pump and treat. It discusses the benefits of optimization, components of a typical optimization evaluation, and components of an optimization program that utilizes such evaluations. Specific optimization evaluation processes that have been implemented by various Federal agencies are highlighted.
Options for Discharging Treated Water from Pump and Treat Systems
EPA 542-R-07-006, May 2007
This fact sheet presents information on available options for the discharge of water that results from a P&T remedy. It begins with a discussion regarding the potential value of treated water, followed by detailed descriptions of the following discharge options: discharge to surface water, return of treated water to the subsurface, discharge to a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) or other existing treatment plant, and reuse of treated water.
Roadmap to Long-Term Monitoring Optimization
The primary goals of this Roadmap are to assist site managers in: understanding the steps involved in conducting a long-term monitoring optimization (LTMO), determining whether a monitoring program could benefit from a LTMO assessment, identifying potential strategies for applying optimization techniques and evaluating which are appropriate for a program, and accessing more information and resources about LTMO tools, methods, and approaches. This roadmap focuses on optimization of established long-term monitoring programs for groundwater. Tools and techniques discussed concentrate on methods for optimizing the monitoring frequency and spatial (three-dimensional) distribution of wells (i.e., physical program optimization). The LTMO techniques discussed here can be described as qualitative or quantitative or some combination of these techniques.
A Systematic Approach for Evaluation of Capture Zones at Pump and Treat Systems
EPA 600-R-08-003, January 2008
This document describes a systematic approach for performing capture zone analysis associated with ground-water pump and treat (P&T) systems. This analysis is meant to determine the zone of hydraulic control of a P&T system. The intended audience for this document is technical professionals that actually perform capture zone analyses (i.e., hydrogeologists, engineers) as well as project managers who review those analyses and/or make decisions based on those analyses.
Groundwater Remediation Optimization: Benefits and Approaches (in progress)
This document inventories the various optimization approaches being used by various Federal agencies and other organizations, including RSEs. It also describes the benefits of the various approaches.
Options for Discharging Treated Groundwater (in progress)
This document will discuss common practices for discharging treated groundwater and potential uses for groundwater in local communities. Focus will be placed on considering treated water a valuable rather than an "engineering waste".
Conducting Cost Benefit Analyses of Alternative Technologies at a Site with Operating Long-term Groundwater Remedies (in progress)
When considering alternative remedial technologies to augment or replace a long-term groundwater remedy, such as a pump and treat system, decision makers should conduct cost-benefit analyses to aid in the decision-making process. This document will provide guidance on conducting and interpreting such analyses. Illustrative examples will be provided. Alternative technologies such as air sparging, bioaugmentation, in situ oxidation, and others will be considered.
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