TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mar 1, 1988

Groundwater Contamination Benefit‐Cost Analysis Methodology

Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 114, Issue 2

Abstract

A procedure for estimating benefits associated with the cleanup of groundwater contamination is proposed. The first step in this procedure is development of a joint probability distribution of contaminant concentration and duration of exposure at a specified location X. A computer model using the turning bands method to generate spatiallyvarying, but correlated hydraulic conductivity fields and a groundwater flow/mass transport computer program to move the contaminant downstream is used to construct the probability distribution. The second step is involved with the formation of a joint incidence fraction distribution of test organism response to various contaminant concentration and duration of exposure levels at the specific location. The sum of the products of the joint probability and incidence fraction distribution values for various contaminant concentration and duration of exposure levels are multiplied by the number of organisms exposed at the specified location in order to estimate benefits resulting from a groundwater cleanup effort.

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Go to Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 114Issue 2March 1988
Pages: 210 - 222

History

Published online: Mar 1, 1988
Published in print: Mar 1988

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Authors

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Kevin K. Wolka
Sr. Engr., Jones & Henry Engrs., Ltd., Toledo, OH 43606‐3996
T. Al Austin, Member, ASCE
Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011

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