Continuous Contaminated site Monitoring (CCSM), Integrated remote real-time supervision for old coking-plant site
Abstract
The purpose of the Continuous Contaminated Site Monitoring (CCSM) is to develop a real time management methodology for PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) contaminated aquifer resulting from coal activity. For full-scale experimentation, since June 2000 an old coking plant site has been instrumented (sensors, analysers, datalogger, programmable logic controller, etc....). Its follow-up currently continues with remote supervision, via telecom connection. The Contaminated Sites Monitoring is a necessity to control the evolution of pollution and therefore the risk to human health or environment. With aromatic hydrocarbons contamination, one is generally satisfied with selective investigation, in fact incomplete and non-representative of the reality. Rarely a real time supervision of the natural evolution of PAHs pollution in the groundwater or in the ground combined with surrounding parameters (weather, rains,etc...) is carried out. This experimental CCSM is able to highlight some correlation between pollution evolution and weather conditions. For the natural attenuation activity deduced from measurements of biogaz in unsaturated area, a strong activity has been observed in hot temperatures (consumption of oxygen and emission of carbon dioxide) and a low one in cold periods. For the daily rate PAH analysis of aquifer water, a field UVfluorometer is used. Calibrated with naphthalene (the most soluble PAH), the water fluorescence is equivalent to a concentration of naphthalene but a post-treatment of data is necessary in order to correct the drift of the analyser between calibrations. Subsequently the measured & treated data are restituted/exploited using an integrated tool consisting of a GIS (Geographic Information System), interconnected to a Database and a mass transport model. The whole results are presented with a convivial and ergonomic integrated tool adapted for decision making support. The polluted site managers can thus visualise any aspect of the pollution and identify the relevant indicators, which can then be compared with other parameters or transport simulations.