A Challenge: How to Remediate the Largest TCE Plume in the U.S. Gary Street Ann Baughman Freshwater Future Petoskey, MI Mancelona TCE Antrim County • Median income (2009) Mancelona: $26, 659 Michigan: $45,255 13 trillion gallons of water contaminated with TCE • Plume is 6 miles by 2+ miles – and growing! • Surface area footprint is 4,000 acres • Plume is moving 300-400 feet annually So what happened in Mancelona?  1940’s to the early 1960’s – Auto Parts Plant  TCE used as a “Degreaser”  Disposal: Out the back door  Sandy soil  A Contaminated Aquifer! Why the Concern About TCE ? September 28, 2011, EPA Classifies Trichloroethylene (TCE) as a known Human Carcinogen Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) (EPA Enforceable Regulation) TCE  MCL  5 ppb Impact Throughout our Great Lakes TCE contamination of groundwater in North America is extremely common. • Michigan--300 known sites • Nationally--761 Superfund sites + many more that are not Superfund sites 1 – 10 mg/L 10 - 100 mg/L > 100 mg/L Cross Section of the Contamination Impact on the Watershed and Lake Michigan Plume is Venting to the Cedar River, which flows to the “Chain of Lakes”, then to L. Michigan Actions to Date: • 2005, Municipal Water Wells drilled • $17.8 M in State funds spent • Will spend ~$2.5 M in next couple of years • Serves 2703 people Photo by Dean Ohlman. Short term – necessary – but not a LONG TERM solution! Progression of TCE Plume: 2005 to 2012 2012 2005 Plume is advancing 300 to 350 feet per year! Project Goals: • Put a “lasso” on the plume! • Provide safe drinking water • Involve the community • Protect public health (air, water, soil) • Involve Universities • Transfer learning to other communities and TCE sites HELP IS NEEDED !! Treatment Possibilities…. Pump and Treat  Air Stripper  Vacuum Stripper  Adsorbent Resin Innovative  Horizontal Distillation Au-Yeung, Resnick, Witt, Frank, Donate, & Robbins, ……., Accepted for Publication, AIChE J, April 2013 Chelate Modified Fenton Reaction  H2O2 & Fe(II)  ………chelate-modified Fenton reaction degrades TCE in both the aqueous and organic phases…….. Bioremediation  Aerobic  Anaerobic Likely A Combination ! For the people of Mancelona……. Eliminate carcinogens from their drinking water Eliminate accumulation of TCE Vapor in their homes Restore property values Make Mancelona a more desirable place to reside Next Steps………… HELP IS NEEDED !! • Enlist the involvement of UNIVERSITIES NEEDED ---- Innovation and Creativity! Fantastic LEARNING EXPERIENCE for students • Continue to work with the community, and the MI DEQ • Seek Grant Money! • Contact: [email protected] or - [email protected] Comments? Questions?