[미국] 지질연구소, NM 공국기지에 감시우물 건설

미국 지질연구소 과학자들이 지하수 오염에 대한 초기경보를 제공하기 위해 뉴멕시코 도시 인근 Trumbull 마을의 세 곳에 감시우물을 건설할 예정이라고 밝혔다.
감시 우물은 지하수 모니터링 우물로써 지하수 오염 장소와 식수 제공 우물사이에 위치한다. 감시우물의 목적은 지하수 오염이 식수 제공 우물에 미치는 영향을 모니터링하고 강화된 경보를 제공하는 것이다,

Starting today, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will be drilling "sentinel" wells at the first of three locations in the Trumbull Village neighborhood in the city of Albuquerque, N.M., to provide early alerts for groundwater contamination.

These new sentinel wells will provide early warning if there is a northeastward movement of the Kirtland Air Force Base Bulk Fuels Facility plume and would provide Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) and Air Force officials lead time to implement plans to protect nearby groundwater drinking water supply wells.

A sentinel well is a groundwater-monitoring well located between a known area of groundwater contamination and drinking-water supply wells. The purpose of a sentinel well is to provide advanced warning of movement of groundwater contamination towards the drinking water supply wells.

During March and April 2013, the USGS drilled a similar sentinel well, funded by the ABCWUA, near the corner of Trumbull Avenue SE and Mesilla Street SE. This year, the organization will be drilling at three locations in the Trumbull Village neighborhood: On the north side of the Cesar Chavez Community Center; near the eastern end of Phil Chacon Park; and in the parking lot at Trumbull Park. This work is being funded by the Air Force.

"USGS scientists will be drilling for approximately 12 hours a day; from about 7 a.m. to about 7 p.m. We expect to be done with the drilling in late December 2014 or early January, 2015," said Nathan Myers, USGS scientist in charge of the project. "Although the drinking water supply wells are not in imminent danger of being contaminated, the sentinel wells are being installed as a precautionary measure to provide early warning if the plume does move towards drinking water supply wells."

The equipment includes a drill rig, two large trailers, a water truck, and smaller vehicles. At each drill site, the drilling equipment and supplies will temporarily occupy a space that is 60 to 100 feet wide and 120 to 150 feet long. After the drilling is complete, wells at each site will be enclosed below ground in locked steel vaults. 

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 8월 7일]