Some suggested topics for your research paper
My first suggestion is that you go to the library and flip through the latest
issues of Ground Water (551.49 F857g). Look at the editorials as well as the technical papers.
Another good, practical magazine is Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation (not sure about the library, but I have in my office). I have other reference material in my office that will help.
The following is a list of suggested topics, you do not have to pick one from this list:
A case study of groundwater remediation from your hometown
The Woburn, MA contamination (see "Civil Action")
Geophysical methods for aquifer characterization
Well drilling methods
Water well design
Contributions of Henry Darcy to hydrogeology (or a biographical paper)
Contributions of C.V. Theis to hydrogeology (or a biographical paper)
Early numerical modeling work by R. Allan Freeze
Groundwater flow models (e.g., MODFLOW)
Latest methods in pump-test analysis
The PA Surface Water Influence Protocol
Goundwater monitoring requirements under RCRA
Fate and transport of chemicals in groundwater
The Borden, Ontario tracer tests
Pump-and-treat remediation and its limitations
Remediation by air injection and air sparging
Bioremediation of hydrocarbon (e.g.,oil, gasoline)-contaminated groundwater
The "DNAPL" problem
Remediation of DNAPL sites by cosolvent flushing
MTBE as a gasoline additive and groundwater contaminant
Remediation of MTBE-contaminated groundwater
Natural attenuation vs. active groundwater remediation
Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations
Remediation of leaking UST sites
New EPA standards for arsenic in groundwater used for drinking
Agricultural pesticides in groundwater
Overpumping/land subsidence (many locations, e.g., central valley of CA, Mexico City)
Seawater intrusion due to pumping
Sustainable use of the groundwater resource (big issue in western US)