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Hydrogeologic barriers to the infiltration of treated wastewater at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site, Burlington County, New Jersey

Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5065
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165065

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Abstract

For the final phase of wastewater treatment operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County, New Jersey, treated effluent is pumped to 12 infiltration basins on a Land Application Site to recharge the unconfined Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system. Two of the 12 infiltration basins are operationally ineffective because discharged effluent fails to percolate and remains ponded on the basin surfaces. A study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense, investigated the potential hydrogeologic conditions preventing infiltration in these basins by testing the geophysical, lithological, and hydraulic characteristics of the aquifer material underlying the site. Saturated sand, sandy clay, and unsaturated sand were encountered in succession through the upper 4 feet of sediment below land surface at the two ineffective basins. Water levels in auger borings penetrating the clay and underlying dry sand were measured as deeper than water levels in nested auger borings in the saturated sand overlying the clay, which indicates a downward vertical gradient was established after removal of the clay in the deeper borings created a conduit for drainage from the surficial saturated sands. Ground-penetrating radar surveys and additional water levels measured in piezometer wells adjacent to the infiltration basins indicated a lack of connectivity between the ponded basin water and the regional water table, and demonstrated that perched conditions were not present in native formation materials outside the inoperable basins. Therefore, the near-surface low permeability clay is likely preventing infiltration from the basin surface and causes the ineffectiveness of the two basins for wastewater land application operations.

Suggested Citation

Fiore, A.R., 2016, Hydrogeologic barriers to the infiltration of treated wastewater at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site, Burlington County, New Jersey: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5065, 83 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165065.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods of Investigation
  • Assessment of Site Hydrogeology and Applicability to Wastewater Infiltration Effectiveness
  • Summary and Conclusions 
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Ground-penetrating radar profile images from the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site, New Jersey 
  • Appendix 2. Natural gamma logs of wells at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site and vicinity, New Jersey
  • Appendix 3. Table of well construction and driller log descriptions from wells at the Joint  Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site and vicinity, New Jersey
  • Appendix 4. Normalized water-level displacement as a function of time during slug tests of piezometer wells at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site, New Jersey, using Bouwer and Rice (1976) solution
  • Appendix 5. Table of discrete water-level altitudes in piezometer wells at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site, New Jersey, as measured by site operators from January 2000–December 2014 
  • Appendix 6. Discrete water levels in piezometer wells at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site, New Jersey, as measured by site operators from January 2000–December 2014
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Hydrogeologic barriers to the infiltration of treated wastewater at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Land Application Site, Burlington County, New Jersey
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2016-5065
DOI 10.3133/sir20165065
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New Jersey Water Science Center
Description viii, 83 p.
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Burlington County
Other Geospatial Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details