Interpretation of borehole geophysical logs, aquifer-isolation tests, and water-quality data for Sites 1, 3, and 5 at Willow Grove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base, Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: 2005

Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5243
In cooperation with the U.S. Navy
By:

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Abstract

Borehole geophysical logging, heatpulse-flowmeter measurements, borehole television surveys, and aquifer-isolation tests were conducted in 2005 at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base (NAS/JRB) in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pa. This study was done by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Navy in support of hydrogeological investigations to address ground-water contamination. Data collected for this study are valuable for understanding ground-water flow in the Stockton Formation at the local and regional scale. The Willow Grove NAS/JRB is underlain by the Stockton Formation, which consists of sedimentary rocks of Triassic age. The rocks of the Stockton Formation form a complex, heterogeneous aquifer with partially connected zones of high permeability. Borehole geophysical logs, heatpulse-flowmeter measurements, and borehole television surveys made in seven boreholes ranging from 70 to 350 ft deep were used to identify potential water-producing fractures and fracture zones and to select intervals for aquifer-isolation tests. An upward vertical hydraulic gradient was measured in one borehole, a downward vertical hydraulic gradient was measured in four boreholes, both an upward and a downward vertical hydraulic gradient were measured in one borehole, and no flow was measurable in one borehole. The aquifer-isolation tests isolated 30 discrete fractures in the seven boreholes for collection of depth-discrete hydraulic and water-quality data. Of the 30 fractures identified as potentially water producing, 26 fractures (87 percent) produced more than 1 gallon per minute of water. The specific capacity of the isolated intervals producing more than 1 gallon per minute ranged from 0.02 to 5.2 gallons per minute per foot. There was no relation between specific capacity and depth of the fracture. Samples for analysis for volatile organic compounds were collected from each isolated zone. Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was the most prevalent compound at Site 1; concentrations were as great as 62 µg/L (micrograms per liter). 1,1-dichloroethane was the most prevalent compound at Site 3; concentrations were as great as 9.3 µg/L. Toluene was the most prevalent compound at Site 5; concentrations were as great as 77 µg/L. For five out of the six wells (83 percent) sampled for field determinations of water-quality constituents, the interval with the lowest dissolved oxygen concentration had the highest total VOC concentration.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Interpretation of borehole geophysical logs, aquifer-isolation tests, and water-quality data for Sites 1, 3, and 5 at Willow Grove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base, Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: 2005
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2006-5243
DOI 10.3133/sir20065243
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Pennsylvania Water Science Center
Description x, 74 p.
Time Range Start 2005-01-01
Time Range End 2005-12-31
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Montgomery County
Other Geospatial Horsham Township, Willow Grove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base
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