Incorporating a Groundwater Monitoring Project into an Introductory Geology Laboratory Class

John E. McCallenPhysical Sciences Department

Broome Community CollegeP.O. Box 1017

Binghamton, NY 13902

mccallenje@sunybroome.edu

Student LabsUsually paper

copies

Worked on in a lab room

No real geological experience

Cortland Salt Storage AreaMonitoring salt

levels in the groundwater

Residential community down gradient of the shed

Part of the Rosen Inactive Hazardous Waste Site

Good project to get students involved

Rosen Site20 acre industrial

site in South Cortland

Former Wickmire Bros. wire screen and nail manufacturing operation

1908 - 1971

Student InvolvementGain real world

experience

DEC lists 780 Inactive hazardous Waste Sites in New York

297 sites in Region 7

www.hopewell-junction-citizens-for-clean-wate...

Two major sites in the Binghamton areaEndicott and Hillcrest

Cortland Salt Storage Area

Two students the first semester

Decided to use as part of a lab exercise

Use the entire class

Students didn’t realize the conditions wells were inBriars, weeds, overgrown areas

Some wells were damaged

Student InvolvementGiven a worksheet

to find flow direction and hydraulic gradient

Students took groundwater elevation, pH, conductivity and TDS measurements in the field

ProblemsGetting a van

Driver

Time must be < 3 hours

Student InterestClass interest

increased after the field trip

Started looking at hazardous waste sites in the area

Thank You

Questions?

Comments!