Pinehurst Former Dry Cleaner

Target Contaminants

Site Background

This former dry cleaning facility in Pinehurst, North Carolina, operated for several decades, resulting in perchloroethylene (PCE) contamination of soil and groundwater. The contamination included PCE and its breakdown products (TCE, DCE, and vinyl chloride).

The site required a sustainable, long-term approach to address the persistent chlorinated solvent plume.

Remediation Strategy

IET implemented a biological reductive dechlorination program using electron donor injection. The approach included:

• EHC® controlled-release substrate for sustained electron donor availability
• Creation of strongly reducing conditions to promote dechlorination
• Strategic injection locations targeting source and plume areas
• Multiple injection events to maintain biological activity

This biological approach provides sustainable, long-term treatment that continues to function for years after injection.

Implementation

The electron donor injection program was conducted using direct-push methods to place the EHC® substrate throughout the treatment zones. Injection depths and locations were carefully selected based on site characterization data.

The field work was completed efficiently by IET's experienced technicians, minimizing disruption to the property and surrounding area.

Results

The biological reductive dechlorination program achieved substantial improvements:

• PCE concentrations reduced by over 75%
• Complete dechlorination to ethene documented
• Sustained biological activity for multiple years post-injection
• Progressive plume reduction over monitoring period
• Cost-effective long-term solution compared to active treatment