Project:
Former Electronics Manufacturing Facility
Bottom Line: Evaluating and implementing innovative technologies to address unexpected issues during groundwater remediation; optimizing remedial systems to meet long-term site goals.
Summary of Project
The 9-acre site formerly contained a facility that manufactured printed circuit boards for more than 30 years, from about 1955 to 1989. Various chemicals were used during its historical operations, including chlorinated solvents from about 1961 to the late 1980’s. In the mid-1980’s, the EPA placed the site in its Superfund program because VOCs were found in several water supply wells. Numerous site studies followed which showed the presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons and metals in the soil and groundwater. Orion provided the following services:
- Providing data evaluation, design, remedial systems installation, third-party review, and other services at the site since 1989 (Orion’s principal engineer).
- Designed and installed an expanded groundwater extraction system located downgradient and off site for containment of impacted groundwater. Conducted sequential pump tests and well installations to determine the effective number of extraction wells and minimum extraction rates to reduce capital and system operation costs.
- Designed a groundwater extraction and treatment system that connected the four offsite wells to an advanced oxidation treatment system. Evaluated several locations for offsite treatment system to maximize cost savings for proposed piping locations, discharge options, and access costs. Prepared bid documents, engineering drawings, and specifications to help the client select a treatment system and qualified contractor.
- Designed a groundwater extraction and treatment system that connected 10 existing onsite wells to air stripping, chromium treatment, and activated carbon systems, following an RWQCB-approved remedial action plan. Prepared bid documents, engineering drawings, and specifications. Helped the client select a contractor and provided management during the construction, installation, and start-up phases. Wrote a system O&M manual.
- Evaluated several innovative technologies using advanced oxidation for the treatment of groundwater impacted by 1,4-dioxane. Prepared a request for qualifications, solicited competitive proposals, evaluated capital and O&M costs, and recommended a system for client procurement. Installed an advanced oxidation system using ozone and hydrogen peroxide for over 99 percent removal of 1,4-dioxane. Operated the system and successfully removed 1, 4-dioxane and VOCs to permitted discharge limits.
- Conducted inert dye tracer study to evaluate groundwater flow paths from onsite sources to offsite impacts.
- Conducted a vertical delineation of VOCs in the saturated zone by collecting discrete water samples between 50 and 95 feet below grade using a cone penetrometer test rig.
- Evaluating innovative technologies for in situ treatment of VOCs to replace the existing groundwater treatment system.