- A homeowner dependent on a domestic water well suddenly saw an accumulation of a black precipitant clogging the pre-filter of their water treatment system. Two years previous to this observation there was a release of gas condensate hydrocarbons and saltwater upgradient of their property.
- The homeowner and their attorneys asked “Is this black precipitant evidence of contact of the drinking water aquifer (100-200 ft) with gas condensate hydrocarbons with a stimulation of sulfate-reduction and/or Fe+3 reduction?” No hydrocarbons could be detected in the groundwater at the homeowner’s property. The answer was yes. QuantArray®-Petro analysis of the filter element versus a control filter element from a similar but unaffected water treatment system showed significant increases in concentrations of functional genes characteristic of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons.
- The results of the QuantArray®-Petro analysis provided evidence of hydrocarbon impact in the drinking water aquifer upgradient of the homeowner’s property in a remarkably cost-effective manner and contributed to a settlement of this case to the benefit of the homeowner.