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Oxidation-reduction processes in ground water at Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Dallas, Texas

Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4046
In cooperation with the Southern Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri034046

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Abstract

Concentrations of trichloroethene in ground water at the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant in Dallas, Texas, indicate three source areas of chlorinated solvents?building 1, building 6, and an off-site source west of the facility. The presence of daughter products of reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene, which were not used at the facility, south and southwest of the source areas are evidence that reductive dechlorination is occurring. In places south of the source areas, dissolved oxygen concentrations indicated that reduction of oxygen could be the dominant process, particularly south of building 6; but elevated dissolved oxygen concentrations south of building 6 might be caused by a leaking water or sewer pipe. The nitrite data indicate that denitrification is occurring in places; however, dissolved hydrogen concentrations indicate that iron reduction is the dominant process south of building 6. The distributions of ferrous iron indicate that iron reduction is occurring in places south-southwest of buildings 6 and 1; dissolved hydrogen concentrations generally support the interpretation that iron reduction is the dominant process in those places. The generally low concentrations of sulfide indicate that sulfate reduction is not a key process in most sampled areas, an interpretation that is supported by dissolved hydrogen concentrations. Ferrous iron and dissolved hydrogen concentrations indicate that ferric iron reduction is the primary oxidation-reduction process. Application of mean first-order decay rates in iron-reducing conditions for trichloroethene, dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride yielded half-lives for those solvents of 231, 347, and 2.67 days, respectively. Decay rates, and thus half-lives, at the facility are expected to be similar to those computed. A weighted scoring method to indicate sites where reductive dechlorination might be likely to occur indicated strong evidence for anaerobic biodegradation of chlorinated solvents at six sites. In general, scores were highest for samples collected on the northeast side of the facility.

Suggested Citation

Jones, S., Braun, C.L., Lee, R.W., 2003, Oxidation-reduction processes in ground water at Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Dallas, Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4046, HTML Document; Report: iv, 37 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri034046.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Oxidation-reduction processes in ground water at Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Dallas, Texas
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 2003-4046
DOI 10.3133/wri034046
Year Published 2003
Language English
Contributing office(s) Texas Water Science Center
Description HTML Document; Report: iv, 37 p.
Country United States
State Texas
City Dallas
Other Geospatial Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant
Additional publication details