The Capillary Fringe: Monitoring and Remediation In This Neglected Zone

Jim Barker, University of Waterloo

Much of the capillary fringe is fully-water-saturated but water is held under negative pressure. Dissolved contaminants migrate laterally as under the water table and residual LNAPLs such as gasoline occur in the capillary fringe. This is becoming more significant as ethanol-blended gasoline may be released into the subsurface. The behavior of ethanol fuels in the subsurface will highlight recent experiemnets in the Borden aquifer. Monitoring approaches, including core analysis and water sampling, will be reviewed.