[en] Over several years a method has been developed at Chalk River Laboratories using small-scale column systems as a supplement to, or alternative to, large-scale field tests. The field column method, using sediments from the aquifer for column preparation, is complemented by physical characterization of the sediments and laboratory batch K_d tests. The method provides a defined flow system simulating natural conditions at relatively low cost compared to full-scale field tests. Preliminary tests with a conservative tracer are used to confirm column performance and estimate dispersivity and velocity in the porous medium under experimental conditions. Column effluents may be monitored on line for geochemical parameters and continuously collected to determine tracer elution profiles and major ion concentrations. Mobile contaminants eluted may be subjected to size and charge speciation tests. The column system is fully recoverable for subsequent sectioning and contaminant desorption in the laboratory. Desorption results for column sections provide further information about dominant sorption mechanisms, while the distribution profiles observed for strongly sorbing species provide useful data for mathematical modeling within a practical time frame. Observed geochemical data are used for thermodynamic model predictions of equilibrium chemistry of the major dissolved species. The information provided by this method can then be used to validate the feasibility of a full-scale field test and optimize the design of the experiment. (Author) (4 refs., 5 figs.)