In his recent article for Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, Murray Einarson, Principal Hydrogeologist at Haley & Aldrich, advocates for the use of a new standard for groundwater cleanup in place of maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). MCLs have been used since the 1970s to assess safe drinking water levels, but they have limitations, according to Einarson. With the development of new technologies, the ability to more effectively measure contaminants that are distributed throughout the subsurface has also evolved. Given these developments, Einarson recommends the use of spatially averaged, flow-weighted concentrations for regulatory decision making.
Read the full article: Spatially Averaged, Flow-Weighted Concentrations – A More Relevant Regulatory Metric for Groundwater Cleanup.
