Ground-water quality and geochemical processes at a municipal landfill, Town of Brookhaven, Long Island, New York

Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4154
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Abstract

The principal geochemical process within a plume of leachate-contaminated ground water downgradient from the municipal landfill in the Town of Brookhaven is the oxidation of organic matter. Concurrent reducing processes are the reduction of iron and manganese oxyhydroxides to soluble ferrous and manganous forms, of nitrate and nitrite to nitrogen and ammonia, of sulfate to sulfide (sulfide precipitates from solution as iron and manganese sulfides), and, under extreme conditions, of some organic matter to methane. Secondary processes unrelated to bacterial activity and redox processes are the exchange of dissolved sodium and potassium for calcium and magnesium at ion-exchange sites and the dissolution of calcium and magnesium silicate minerals; these processes cause sodium and potassium concentrations to decrease with depth and with distance from the landfill and cause calcium, magnesium, and silica concentrations to increase.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Ground-water quality and geochemical processes at a municipal landfill, Town of Brookhaven, Long Island, New York
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 91-4154
DOI 10.3133/wri914154
Year Published 1995
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description Report: v, 45 p.; 1 Plate: 18.77 x 21.26 inches
Country United States
State New York
City Town of Brookhaven
Other Geospatial Long Island
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