Conjunctive vadose and saturated zone monitoring for subsurface contamination

Abstract

A comprehensive subsurface monitoring program should include contaminant detectors in both the vadose and saturated zones. Vadose zone detectors can provide an early warning of an impending groundwater contamination problem, and also yield information relevant to placing groundwater monitoring wells. Moisture probes, gas monitoring wells, and pore-liquid samplers deployed in the vadose zone complement groundwater detection wells. The objective(s) of a monitoring program, spatial-scales, and hydrogeology are important considerations for designing subsurface monitoring networks. Often, these networks are used to detect potential releases or characterize existing contamination beneath land-based waste storage facilities. A case study in Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A., illustrates the utility of vadose zone monitoring in characterizing a gasoline contamination problem and guiding the placement of groundwater monitoring wells.