Transport model for PFAS-laden surface water foams in lacustrine and fluvial environments

• Main Author: Harding, Barry
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; PFAS; Breakwater; Harding; Sail Peaks; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109865; https://youtu.be/hS2iJTQCKpA

Presented by: Barry Harding – Technical Leader at AECOM, [e-mail] Co-authors: Mike Jury, James Buzzell, Matt VanderEide Abstract: Surface Water Foams (SWFs) are buoyant, air-containing, aqueous masses sometimes encountered on rivers, open surface waters, and shorelines. They can be both naturally occurring and contain synthetic chemicals such as PFAS. In 2020, Michigan EGLE and AECOM conducted a SWF study, collecting 17 SWF and surface water samples from inland surface waters in Michigan’s lower peninsula. One facet of the study was to develop a better understanding of SWF transport. Two transport models are presented: (1) for an open-water, wind-driven, lacustrine environment and, (2) an advection-driven, fluvial transport model present in turbulent spillway conditions. Primary transport mechanisms for the open-water model include wind and near-shore breakwater currents. Development of foam “wind-sail” peaks or prominent water-surface geometries also aids in the open-water transport of SWF to the littoral zone and beaches. Fluvial transport of SWF is different, and largely driven by advection, with SWF generation occurring in turbulent areas such as at spillways, confluences, or other highly agitated flow areas, followed by downstream migrating and collecting in lower flow velocity areas or at obstructions. The models are reasonable scientific explanations as to how SWFs may be transported on lakes and in rivers and serve as predictive illustrations of SWF occurrences. Biography: Barry Harding is a geologist and biologist with over 30 years of applied technical consulting experience in the environmental industry. He has worked on over 600 sites of environmental contamination on every continent except Antarctica. In his spare time he is an avid birder and amateur herpetologist. Open