The dipole flow and reactive tracer test (DFRTT) can be used as an efficient in situ, cost-effective alternative to current site investigation technologies, and increase confidence in site-specific parameter estimation.

The DFRTT circulates groundwater between isolated injection (source) and extraction (sink) chambers within a single well.  Once steady-state flow has been reached, conservative and reactive tracers are added to the injected solution and the concentration of the tracers and their reaction products can be monitored in the extracted solution.  These tracer breakthrough curves are analyzed by an interpretation model to obtain parameter estimates.

We have constructed a dipole probe prototype and more than 50 field tests have been conducted. Four characteristic type or response curves were observed.  Ongoing efforts to refine the field methods and use of other tracers are underway.