Pioneering groundwater contamination investigation, research, and in situ treatment

The 1972 paper by Professor Jack McKee of the California Institute of Technology, consulting engineer Finley Laverty and Raymond Hertzel of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board-Los Angeles (McKee et al., 1972) was an early, important contribution to the understanding of groundwater contamination with organic liquids and to the integrated use of field, laboratory, and modeling studies to develop remediation approaches. The work presented in the paper was ahead of the curve and helped provide the foundation for the intense research, development, and education in investigation and remediation of groundwater contamination problems that began around 1980 and lasted for two decades. Reading the paper in the current context of more than 40 years of research and field experience provides perspective on how little was known in 1972 about groundwater contamination and how to address it, and how well-formulated and forward-looking was the work of McKee et al. PRACTITIONER POINTS: McKee et al. (1972) was an early, important contribution to the understanding of groundwater contamination with organic liquids and to the integrated use of field, laboratory and modeling studies to develop remediation approaches. McKee et al. present the results of site investigation and remediation planning studies for a large-scale groundwater contamination site in the Los Angeles-Glendale, California area. Four specific remediation goals were established, and a comprehensive program of site investigation, research, and modeling was developed to support the achievement of the remediation goals. The comprehensive site investigation and remedial planning involving field, laboratory, and modeling studies described by McKee et al. was a forerunner of what came into standard contaminated site remediation practice in the 1980s and 1990s.