Published Article: Huntley’s LNAPL Transmissivity Baildown Test Method Revisited
Posted on March 19, 2026
Huntley’s LNAPL Transmissivity Baildown Test Method Revisited
Authored by Roux’s Martin J. Hamper, PG and Mir SeyedAbbasi, PhD, PE
Baildown tests are an important and relatively inexpensive way to estimate transmissivity. In 2000, Huntley developed baildown test analytical methods to determine LNAPL transmissivity. One of his baildown test methods was based on the Bouwer and Rice (1976) rising head slug test method (“Huntley’s Method 1”). In Batu’s (2012) criticism of Huntley’s Method 1, he noted that both Lundy and Zimmerman’s Method and Huntley’s Method 1 are based on the Bouwer and Rice (1976) rising head slug test method, but he observed that only Huntley’s Method 1 included a density correction factor.
Through their research, Roux’s Martin Hamper and Dr. SeyedAbbasi examined the derivation of Huntley’s Method 1 and found that a mathematical error led to the density correction factor. The corrected Huntley Method 1 equation is equivalent to the Bouwer and Rice (1976) equation for transmissivity. The density correction factor error in Huntley’s Method 1 causes the LNAPL transmissivity value to be approximately 4 to 10 times higher than it should be, potentially resulting in unnecessary remediation costs.
This research article was published by the National Ground Water Association’s Groundwater Journal in March 2026. To unlock the full article, please click the link below:
