For the past 25 years, Geofirma Engineering has been responsible for the detailed flow and transport modelling required for various investigations into the postclosure safety of Deep Geologic Repositories (DGRs) in Canada.
Like many Ontario cities, Kingston was once fueled by coal gas. The manufacturing process resulted in deep bedrock contamination beneath parts of the downtown core. Geofirma was retained to complete all aspects of assessment and remediation in the DNAPL source zone for the City.
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment contracted Geofirma to supervise site remediation activities and complete detailed hydrogeological investigation at a former fuel outlet in eastern Ontario. A groundwater plume from the site had impacted domestic wells and surface water.
This modelling project represents one of the first efforts to understand the potential impacts of future glaciations deep geological repositories for radioactive waste. The effects of glaciation were addressed using a three-dimensional (3-D) numerical model of a hypothetical repository in the Canadian Shield, and coupling flow to mechanical loading from a continental glacier.
Geofirma’s role is to protect the City of San Diego’s interests by reviewing proposals for site cleanup by the responsible party, analyzing geochemical data, conducting simulations, and proposing approaches to improve the success of the aquifer remediation.