GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. completed a groundwater remediation pilot test at a shopping center using a proprietary bioremediation additive provided by Plant Products Co. Ltd. of Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
The shopping center had two former dry cleaner stores and a currently operating facility. During GZA's Environmental Site Assessment, perchloroethene (PCE) contamination was detected in the groundwater and soil in two areas. GZA conducted a pilot-test program using two temporary monitoring wells that were installed in the source area proximate to a former dry cleaner facility. The pilot test involved implementation of Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination (ERD) in a source area using a proprietary additive to evaluate the efficacy of enhancing the PCE biodegradation, The process successfully achieves results without the need for excavation or equipment to maintain.
The new, innovative "green" technology was able to reduce PCE groundwater concentrations in both of the temporary wells over 98% during the 7-month pilot test. According to Frank Vetere, the GZA project manager on the project, "The client was so impressed by the results, that we implemented a full-scale remediation of the former dry cleaner stores. We anticipate that this program will save them significant time and money to clean up the site."
Richard Schaffner, Jr., a senior technical specialist and hydrogeologist who provided technical support on this project, added "The ERD approach creates the environment in the subsurface that allows the native bacteria to flourish and destroy the PCE, eventually converting it to innocuous ethene. The client was pleased not to have energy-consuming treatment equipment remaining at the site when the program was implemented."
GZA has remediated hundreds of dry cleaner sites throughout the world, many of them using this innovative environmental biotechnology.
"We are very proud of our groundwater remediation technology and we look forward to continuing to use this unique technology in sites around the world," said William Beloff, president and CEO of GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. "We congratulate our team on their dedication and on their success."