Drycleaner Site Profiles

Former Dollar Cleaners, Lake Worth, Florida

Description
Historical activity that resulted in contamination.

Drycleaning using PCE was performed at this facility for less than 19 months (1986-87). The facility is located in a small strip shopping center situtated in a mixed commercial/residential setting. A drainage canal is located approximately 75 feet southwest of the facility. The nearest public water supply well is located approximately 2000 feet southeast of the site. The contaminant source area is the soils beneath the facility floor slab in the vicinity of the drycleaning machine.

Contaminants
Contaminants present and the highest amount detected in both soil and groundwater.


Contaminant Media Concentration (ppb) Nondetect
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene groundwater 63.7 ppb
Tetrachloroethene (PCE) groundwater 19.9 ppb
Tetrachloroethene (PCE) soil 190 ppb
Trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater 27.4 ppb
trans-1,2-Dichloroethene groundwater 2.6 ppb

Site Hydrology

Deepest Significant Groundwater Contamination:   12ft bgs
Plume Size:   Plume Length: 70ft
Plume Width: 120ft
Average Depth to Groundwater:   5ft

Lithology and Subsurface Geology

 
   silty, fine to medium-grained sand with shell fragments
Depth: 0-24ft bgs
24ft thick
Conductivity: 86.4ft/day
Gradient: 0.0022ft/ft

Pathways and DNAPL Presence

checkGroundwater
Sediments
checkSoil
DNAPL Present

Remediation Scenario

Cleanup Goals:
   Groundwater (MCLs): PCE = 3 µg/l, TCE = 3 µg/l, cis 1,2-DCE = 70 µg/l, trans 1,2-DCE = 100 µg/l
Soil cleanup target leachability level: PCE = 30 µg/kg

Technologies

In Situ Monitored Natural Attenuation
  

Why the technology was selected:
Natural attenuation was selected for the groundwater remedy because contaminant concentrations were low and the presence of PCE degradation products indicated that some reductive dechlorination had occurred.

Date implemented:
December 13, 2001

Cost to Design and Implement:
$134,598 for all technologies
In Situ Soil Vapor Extraction
  

Why the technology was selected:
SVE is a cost-effective technology for removing VOCs from permeable unsaturated soils.

Date implemented:
December 13, 2001

Final remediation design:
A total of six horizontal SVE wells were installed at the site. Three of the wells were installed beneath the facility floor slab and three wells were installed beneath the floor slab of the adjacent bay in the strip shopping center. Four vertical and and one horizontal passive vapor inlet wells were installed beneath the building floor slab. Three horizontal passive vapor inlet wells were installed outside the western and northern walls of the facility. Approximately 32 tons of soil was removed during system installation. Wells: 4-inch diameter PVC; 6 extraction wells, 4.5 foot screen length Depth: 3 ft beneath floor slab, screen length 3ft; 4 vertical vapor inlet wells, depth 4 ft; 4 horizontal vertical passive vapor inlet wells (screen lengths 16 to 60 ft) SVE motor: 5.0 hp. Rotron blower Design flowrate: 85 cfm, 42-54 in. w.c. Operational flowrate: 70-98.5 cfm, 64 in. w.c. Radius of Influence: 25 ft Emissions treatment: 2-500 lb. GAC vessels in series

Results to date:
The system operated for 4 months (until April 2002). An estimated 0.4 lbs. of PCE was recovered. Confirmatory soil sampling showed that PCE contamination in soils had been reduced to below cleanup target levels. No contaminants were detected in monitor well groundwater samples in concentrations exceeded cleanup target levels during the last two monitor events conducted at the site. The remedial system was removed and a Site Rehabilitation Completion Order was issued for the site on October 25, 2002.

Cost to Design and Implement:
$134,598 for all technologies
Ex Situ Carbon Adsorption
  

Date implemented:
December 13, 2001

Final remediation design:
SVE emissions treatment: 2-500 lb. GAC vessels in series

Results to date:
The system operated for 4 months (until April 2002). An estimated 0.4 lbs. of PCE was recovered. Confirmatory soil sampling showed that PCE contamination in soils had been reduced to below cleanup target levels. No contaminants were detected in monitor well groundwater samples in concentrations exceeded cleanup target levels during the last two monitor events conducted at the site. The remedial system was removed and a Site Rehabilitation Completion Order was issued for the site on October 25, 2002.

Cost to Design and Implement:
$134,598 for all technologies

Costs

Cost for Assessment:
   $70,831
Cost for Operation and Maintenance:
   $29,910 Groundwater monitoring: $ 4,574 Closure & site restoration: $4,893
Total Costs for Cleanup:
   $244,806

Lessons Learned

1. Even though drycleaning was performed for less than 19 months at this site and site assessment occurred 13 years after drycleaning operations ceased, drycleaning solvent contamination in soil and groundwater still exceeded cleanup target levels.

2. It is likely that excavation related to installation of the SVE system piping aided in remediation of PCE in soils at the site.

Contacts

John Sykes, Project Manager
Bureau of Waste Cleanup (MS4520)
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
(850) 245-8960
john.sykes@dep.state.fl.us

Jay McGovern, P.G., Contractor
Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp.
759 South Federal Highway, Suite 100
Stuart, Florida 34994-2936
(561) 781-3409
jmcgovern@fwenc.com

Site Specific References

1. Site Assessment Report 9/2000
2. Remedial Action Plan 3/2001
3. Remedial Action Report 12/2001
4. Groundwater Monitoring Reports 2001/2002