This video explains why groundwater contamination data cannot be interpreted in isolation from the geologic framework and hydraulic head conditions. Using hypothetical borehole data, it shows how a conventional, overly simplified sedimentary interpretation can lead to incorrect assumptions about groundwater flow and plume behavior. By reinterpreting the same data within the context of a meandering river depositional environment, the video demonstrates how lateral heterogeneity fundamentally alters groundwater pathways and expected plume geometry. Conceptual animations highlight how different geologic interpretations produce dramatically different plume migration patterns, underscoring why accurate conceptual site models are essential for defensible groundwater assessments.  

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