MODELING FATE AND TRANSPORT OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs) INSIDE SEWER SYSTEMS

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Public Health

Background:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) migrate into indoor spaces via sewer systems.
• Existing models lack context for predicting VOCs in sewer gas and vapor intrusion.
• This gap hinders effective risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a numerical model to simulate VOC concentrations in sewer gas.
• Provide a tool for characterizing and predicting VOCs in sewer gas at vapor intrusion sites.
• Support risk assessment and mitigation of sewer-transported VOCs.

Main Methods:

• Developed a numerical model simulating VOCs in sewer gas.
• Incorporated parameters like temperature, liquid depth, groundwater depth, and sewer characteristics.
• Verified model output with field data from a Superfund site.

Main Results:

• Successfully simulated VOC concentrations in sewer gas.
• Model validated against real-world field data.
• Sensitivity analysis identified key input parameter influences.

Conclusions:

• The developed model is the first to simulate VOCs in sewer gas for vapor intrusion.
• Provides a valuable numerical tool for sewer assessment guidelines and risk management.
• Aids in developing effective mitigation strategies for VOC contamination.