Hydrogeology and Waste Disposal: Students Detect Ground Water Pollution

随着人们对有毒废物和饮用水资源污染的日益关注，对受过良好教育的水文地质学家的需求也在增加。这个项目的目的是教学生检测地下水污染的方法，特别是由废物处理设施造成的污染。这将通过改进东北伊利诺伊大学现有的水文地质学项目来实现。根据该计划购买的主要仪器包括一个移动式电动螺旋钻，学生将用它来学习钻井、测井和开发监测井的方法，以及一个压力传感器型水位指示器，学生可以用它来测试垃圾填埋场盖的水密性。为了检测污染，气相色谱仪和分光光度计将使学生能够对水样进行化学分析，以检测和量化泄漏的有毒废物造成的污染。这个项目意义重大，因为它将在当今最需要的地区培养水文地质学家。确定垃圾填埋场渗滤液泄漏的路径和移动速度对于检测和修复受污染的水至关重要。有毒废物清理工作表明，研究水与有机化学废物之间的相互作用至关重要。如果今天的学生要像明天的科学家那样解决这些问题，他们就必须学会正确的研究方法。该机构将以等额的资金匹配奖励。

Amid growing concern over toxic waste and pollution of drinking water resources, the need for well-educated hydrogeologists increases. The aim of this project is to teach students methods for the detection of ground water pollution, particularly pollution by waste disposal facilities. This will be done by improving the already-existing program in hydrogeology at Northeastern Illinois University. Major instruments to be purchased under this program include a mobile motorized auger, which students will use to learn methods of drilling, logging, and developing monitoring wells, and a pressure transducer-type water level indicator, which will allow students to make tests of the water-tightness of landfill covers. For detection of pollution, a gas chromatograph and spectrophotometer will enable students to chemically analyze water samples to detect and quantify pollution by leaking toxic wastes. This project is significant because it will train hydrogeologists in the areas most needed today. Identifying the paths and rate of movement of leaking landfill leachate is crucial to detection and remediation of polluted water. Toxic waste cleanup efforts have shown that studying the interactions between water and organic chemical wastes is of paramount importance. If today's students are to address these problems as tomorrow's scientists, they must learn the proper methods of research. The institution will match the award with an equal amount of funds.