PROJECT EXAMPLES

Whittaker Creek Campground Water Treatment System

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eugene District retained our staff to construct an ultraviolet treatment system, conveyance lines and campground hydrants for Whittaker Creek Campground.

Our staff installed over 3,000 linear feet of 1 1/2-inch diameter schedule 40 PVC pipe.  The campground contains two wells that were fitted with hand pumps used for obtaining drinking water.  As part of the construction and installation services, one well was fitted with a submersible pump and piped to the treatment system.  Then treated water was piped throughout the campground.  Materials in contact with water had to have National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification (NSF 61) for potable water use.  In addition, the wellhead piping, fittings, and conveyance lines installation was consistent with standards of practice as specified by the American Water Works Association (AWWA). 
 

The treatment system was installed in a pre-fabricated concrete building.  The treatment system consisted of an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection unit capable of treating up to 9 gallon-per minute from the well.  In addition to the treatment system installation, seven self-closing hydrants were constructed around the campground, as well as an ADA compliant drinking fountain.  
 

Other construction activities included a bridge crossing of water and electrical lines.  The campground is split by Whittaker Creek and required a waterline crossing on a footbridge to accommodate both sides of the campground.

Advanced Remediation Technologies, Co. was retained as a consultant to perform numerous Phase I environmental site assessments of properties of interest (i.e. agricultural and retail) to evaluate whether potential environmental issues may impact the subject properties.  The Phase I’s were conducted according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Phase I standard practice (Doc. E 1527-00).  The Phase I’s were used by the Client to make decisions on property transfers.  The purpose of the Phase I is to identify “recognized environmental conditions” in connection with a site.  Recognized environmental conditions are defined as the presence, or likely presence, of hazardous substances or petroleum products on the site that could indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material threat of a release of hazardous substances or petroleum products into property structures, surface water, ground, or groundwater. 
 

For our clients the purpose of a phase I environmental site assessment (ESA) is to satisfy one of the requirements to qualify for the innocent landowner defense to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) liability, as defined in 42 USC 9601(35)(B).  ARTs numerous Phase I ESAs for commercial properties that typically included:

• Records Review – Review of local, state and federal agency records (including building permits, environmental data bases, historical fire insurance maps, land title records, aerial photographs etc).
• Site Inspection — A visit to the site to obtain information indicating the likelihood of recognizable environmental conditions (including existing site uses, adjacent site uses, above/below ground storage tanks, water wells, dry wells, chemical storage area, solid waste disposal, etc.)  ART observed and report the presence of visually apparent suspect asbestos materials (SACM), including the extent and current conditions of any visually apparent SACM.
• Interviews— Interviewed with current owners and occupants of the subject properties, as well as local regulatory officials
• Evaluation and Report—The reports contained baseline information on the sites, document the findings of the Phase I ESA activities, and conclusions and recommendations of appropriate follow-up activities (as necessary) to evaluate whether potential environmental concerns are present. 

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) retained our staff to evaluate and select a groundwater treatment technology and design and construct the selected treatment system for a contaminated municipal well field.  Contaminants of concern included the chlorinated solvents terachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA), and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE) which came from a defunct dry cleaners that disposed of spent cleaner solvents into a dry well.  The affected wells were installed by the Town of Payson to meet a projected water shortage, but the well water was found to be contaminated and could not be used without treatment.

The project was funded by the Arizona Water Quality Revolving Fund (WQARF) that provides money for site cleanup.  The Payson WQARF site was one of the first major cleanups to be conducted under the program and served as a model for future sites.  This was also the first design/build project of a treatment system for the ADEQ.

Our staff evaluated alternative treatment technologies for treatment efficiency, compatibility with drinking water treatment, operations and maintenance requirements, and life-cycle cost.  Carbon adsorption was selected as the treatment method because it is proven and reliable and was less expensive than acceptable alternatives.  Groundwater flow was modeled to assess contaminant capture and estimate groundwater extraction rates.  The state-of-the-art system was designed to treat flows up to 1,300 gallons per minute at in influent PCE concentration of 2,000 μg/.
 

Our staff worked closely with ADEQ to define project requirements, to develop the technical scope, and construct and install the system.  Our staff also responded to the needs of the Town of Payson to ensure that the requirements for the public water supply were met, including demand scheduling, operational requirements, and public relations.  Because of projected water shortages in the Town of Payson a rapid schedule was placed on the project.  Our staff completed technology evaluation to having a system on-line within 10 months.  The treatment system was designed to be turn over to the town to operate.  Therefore, the treatment system was designed to provide reliable operation with minimal operator commitment.  System functions, including groundwater extraction, groundwater conveyance, system monitoring, alarm functions, and data management were controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured for remote system monitoring and operation through a human machine interface (HMI) with a dedicated on-site personal computer.  

Groundwater extraction pumps were controlled by variable frequency drive (VFD) controllers that allowed precise control of drawdown and well production.  Treated groundwater is chlorinated with a sodium hypochlorite inline injection system as it is pumped to an on-site welded steel 100,000 gallons storage tanks.  The treated and disinfected water is added to the distribution system through a duplex pump system that is flow controlled through a VFD.  The conveyance piping for the all extraction wells was constructed of high density polyethylene SDR 11 NSF 61 certified pipe that was both butt fused and electro-fused for a zero leakage conveyance network.  The system has had a 99-percent runtime with only downtime due to pre-filter and granular activated carbon change out.

ART was retained as a consultant for completing the cleanup of petroleum hydrocarbons from the leaking UST.  Several shallow groundwater contaminant plumes with different sources appear to be present on the site and adjacent properties.  The on-site groundwater contamination is dominated by the LNAPL originating near the lube oil rack in the building and the gasoline UST, which reportedly was abandoned in-place some years ago.  Most of the LNAPL-associated groundwater contamination is present below the service bays of the existing building.  The off-site shallow groundwater contamination appears to be originating from offsite, possibly on the adjacent property.  The off-site sources of groundwater contamination resulted in relatively low concentrations of chlorinated compounds migrating onto the I&O site.

Groundwater contaminant concentrations on the I&O site ranged from not detected (ND) to three feet of LNAPL.  Analysis of the LNAPL determined it consisted mostly of heavy oils with smaller amounts of gasoline, petroleum-related VOCs, chlorinated VOCs, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds (LNAPL constituents and characteristics are discussed in greater detail in the next memo section).  The product analysis correlated to two likely nearby sources, the lube oil rack and the gasoline UST, and not to the waste oil UST that was decommissioned.

With DEQ oversight since 1999, ART on behalf of Immer and Oswald have completed the site characterization requirements, submitted the data, and proposed and obtained “No Further Action” on the site contingent with on site use restrictions limiting access to the LNAPL plume on site.

Advanced Remediation Technologies, Co. was retained as a consultant and remediation contractor for completing the cleanup of petroleum hydrocarbons from leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs).  The LUSTs had been removed prior to our involvement.  Additionally, contaminated soils surrounding the leaking LUSTs was removed during decommissioning.  Our company was asked to take over the project when contamination was discovered to have migrated beneath the foundation of the buildings on site.  Our staff evaluated alternatives for treatment.  The site soils are fine-grained in the vadose and saturated zones, but appeared permeable enough for soil vapor extraction (SVE) to be effective treatment mechanism.  The major contaminants of concern consisted of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and total xylenes (BTEX) and total petroleum hydrocarbons.

The SVE system was design and installed with the extraction wells and trench galleries located in the building.  The equipment was located outside for noise and ease of operation and maintenance.  Advanced Remediation Technologies installed the system and has provided operation and maintenance support since the system was started.  In the first 2 months of operation, the benzene contaminant level was reduced from 153 mg/m³ to non detect.  Advanced Remediation Technologies not only has come in under budget for this project but also has saved the client money by providing full services.  Additional services provided by ART were preparation of conceptual site model, groundwater monitoring, and risk-based closure evaluation.  Currently, the site is under the final steps (public comment) for obtaining “No Further Action” with limited deed restrictions with the DEQ.

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