PROCESSES AFFECTING THE MOVEMENT AND FATE OF TRACE ORGANICS IN THE SUBSURFACE ENVIRONMENT.

Organic contaminants reach the subsurface environment when relaimed waters are percolated through the soil surface or injected into aquifers either for groundwater replenishment or wastewater treatment. Organic materials may also pass into the subsurface environment after transport and handling accidents or through leakage from storage facilities. Questions concerning the movements, transformation, and ultimate fate of trace organic materials need to be answered in order to assess the risks of contamination of potable groundwater supplies by hazardous organic pollutants and the feasibility of recharge systems.