TCE-Impacted Groundwater at Motor Manufacturing Facility

SES Environmental provided technical consultation and field services required to delineate the extent of TCE in groundwater beneath a facility that manufactured motor windings. Site work was initiated with the removal of several underground storage tanks, which had been used to contain waste hydraulic oil and solvent. Because the facility was being prepared for closure, the owner requested site work to be completed on an expedited schedule. SES utilized direct-push probing methods to quickly collect soil and groundwater samples for vertical and lateral delineation of the TCE plume. Temporary piezometers were installed during the initial phase of the project to provide a means for determining groundwater flow direction and gradient.

After evaluating the plume orientation and distribution pattern, SES designed and installed a permanent groundwater monitor well network. The network was designed to allow for monitoring TCE concentrations within the interior of the plume, as well as the rate of TCE migration at the leading edge of the plume.

In order to assess potentially feasible remedial options, SES designed and implemented a pilot-testing program. Two remedial options were evaluated as part of this program - vacuum-enhanced recovery (VER), and conventional pump and treat. Each test was conducted over a period of 24 hours. The tests were conducted by extracting from a selected well, and monitoring hydraulic/pressure differentials at surrounding piezometers and monitor wells. Monitoring was conducted using pressure transducers and a data logger.