Aberdeen

Groundwater in certain areas at Aberdeen Proving Ground is contaminated with a mixture of chlorinated solvents including 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform. In these areas, groundwater discharges through natural wetlands to surface water. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) documented that in most of these areas, solvents in groundwater are slowly seeping through the wetlands and biodegrading prior to reaching the surface. However, in certain localized areas, groundwater seeps rapidly to the surface without adequate biodegradation or attenuation. The U.S. Army selected Geosyntec to work with the USGS to develop a bioaugmentation culture and delivery method to treat high velocity seep areas to prevent the discharge of chlorinated solvents to surface water. The goal of the project was to install the treatment technology in a contaminated seep area, monitor technology performance for one year, and document the technology's ability to biodegrade solvents before they discharged to surface water.