Projects

Helping New Mexico Environment Department Tackle PFAS Contamination

By January 27, 2021May 13th, 2021No Comments

Clear Creek staff are on affiliate Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.’s (DBS&A) team that was recently awarded a contract to support the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) in determining the extent of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) impacts to surface water and groundwater in the vicinity of both Cannon and Holloman Air Force Bases, located in New Mexico. Our team will assist with defining the extent of impacts and developing a remedial strategy that reduces risks to human health and the environment. Read more about the project in the NMED’s press release.

Among the team members are Clear Creek hydrogeologists, Melanie Lindsey, RG, and Gregory Hess, RG, who have been investigating PFAS contamination in Arizona. As part of the Tucson Airport Remediation Project (TARP), Clear Creek investigated of the presence of PFAS in the area in and around the Tucson International Airport (TIA), the Air National Guard training facility, and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The team identified areas lacking PFAS information and conducted a well inventory to find wells to target for delineation of the plume.

Clear Creek also developed and applied a contaminant transport model to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP) on groundwater quality in Tucson, Arizona. The goal was to predict the future concentrations of PFAS in groundwater as a result of recharging the treated wastewater containing low level concentrations of PFAS. In addition, the model was used to predict the distance that PFAS would migrate in the aquifer, particularly with respect to any nearby potable supply wells.