Christian Parke

Passive Flux Meters as a High-Resolution Contaminant Distribution Characterization Tool

Christian Parke, Southeast District Technical Manager, Regenesis Bioremediation

In-situ remediation of aquifers is one of the most cost-efficient methods for the cleanup of contaminated sites. This type of groundwater remediation relies on a number of factors for a successful application, chiefly among them being the interaction of the remedial reagent with the contaminated zone. Proper vertical application of the reagent is paramount. No matter the product, if the reagent does not produce its designed effect on the correct vertical interval within an aquifer, the money spent on that product has been wasted. Flux meters provide a suite of high-resolution data detailing the horizontal movement of contaminants across any specified vertical interval at a 1-foot vertical scale. While monitoring wells, hydraulic gradient estimates, and soil cores provide useful data in the mapping of contaminated groundwater plumes, they lack the meaningful datapoints to provide anything other than a high level, conceptual view of contaminant transport through an aquifer. Flux meters provide hard data on these key metrics. Understanding the movement of a contaminant within a plume can lead to a more efficient and cost-effective installation of remedial products and fewer under-performing sites.    Flux meters measure groundwater velocity and contaminant flux within an aquifer. Contaminant (or mass) flux is defined as the movement of mass through a defined cross-sectional area over a specified period of time. Identifying these transport zones can either shrink an existing vertical contaminated zone, saving the end-user money on unused product or expand the vertical treatment zone to include a previous unknown contaminant transport zone, saving the time of future reapplications or delays in site closure. Knowing this measurement at key points within a groundwater plume can save time in the site evaluation process and money on the field application of a reagent.   

Christian Parke is the Southeast District Manager with Regenesis. He is going on seven years with Regenesis after starting with their application services team and moving into Remediation Design and Sales District Management. During his tenure with Regenesis, Christian has designed and implemented innovative remedial technologies on hundreds of chlorinated solvent, petroleum hydrocarbon, and PFAS sites. Originally from Alabama, Christian is a geologist by training with a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University. He now serves clients across the Southeast from his home in Greenville, South Carolina.