Kærgård Plantage

Groundwater in Denmark that has been contaminated with chlorinated solvents is often remediated using in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) with permanganate, or bioremediation via in situ enhanced biological reductive dechlorination (ERD).  Although ISCO using Fenton's reagent is a commonly used technology in North America for remediation of chlorinated solvents present in the subsurface as dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), in Denmark the technology is still considered relatively unproven. 

Groundwater supplies beneath the Kærgård Plantage pharmaceutical waste disposal site in Denmark are contaminated with substantial quantities of chlorinated solvents (primarily tetrachloroethene, or PCE), which are present in the subsurface as dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). Contaminated groundwater from the site discharges to the nearby North Sea, creating a potential human health and ecological risk at a beach adjacent to the site. Since 2004, Geosyntec Consultants has advised the Danish government regarding the remedial strategy for cleaning up the site and mitigating risks at the beach. At Geosyntec’s recommendation, the Danish authorities retained a team of consultants with a goal of evaluating the feasibility of three technologies for remediating the primary DNAPL source areas at the site: in situ biological enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD), in situ chemical oxidation with Fenton’s reagent, and in situ thermal remedial via steam flushing.