MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY FOR A LARGE NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS - PHASE I: EXTERNAL MONITORING WITH IN SITU SENSORS

A COST EFFECTIVE METHODOLOGY TO MANAGE A LARGE NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS, SUCH AS WHAT EXISTS AT A MAJOR AIR FORCE FACILITY, WILL BE INVESTIGATED. A VERSATILE, IN GROUND, LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM UTILIZING IN SITU SENSORS AND AN INSTALLATION METHOD OF PUSHING PREFABRICATED MONITORING POINTS INTO THE SOIL WILL BE DEVELOPED. THE METHODOLOGY DEVISED IS EXPECTED TO REPLACE COSTLY MONITOR WELL INSTALLATION AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS CURRENTLY SUED FOR SUBSURFACE CONTAMINANT MONITORING. TECHNIQUES TO EXPLOIT THE LARGE AMOUNT OF NEW SENSORS SUITABLE FOR IN SITU USE WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND DOCUMENTED SO THAT THE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THESE NEW SENSORS CAN BE REALIZED. FIBER OPTIC CHEMICAL SENSORS WILL BE USED IN THE PILOT STUDY. THESE SENSORS READINGS WILL BE COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL WELL SAMPLE AND ANALYSIS PROCEDURES. FIELD PERFORMANCE OF SENSORS INSTALLED IN BOTH MONITOR WELLS AND PUSHED INSTALLATIONS WILL BE DOCUMENTED. PHASE II RESEARCH WILL INTEGRATE EXTERNAL MONITORING METHODS WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGIES TO DESIGN A COMPLETE SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT OF A LARGE NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.