NEWS RELEASE 2000-02 AIR FORCE STARTS TCE/SD-5S TREATMENT SYSTEM AHEAD OF SCHEDULE MASSACHUSETTS MILITARY RESERVATION, Cape Cod, Mass. —Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) officials have started ahead of schedule the treatment system to remove contaminants from the Trichloroethylene (TCE) and portions of the Storm Drain-5 South (SD-5S) groundwater plumes. These two plumes flow under the Briarwood neighborhood of Mashpee. The system began operating Saturday, January 22nd, nine days ahead of the enforceable milestone of January 31, 2000 established in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The primary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being removed by this system are TCE and perchloroethylene (PCE). The system is anticipated to be operational for approximately 9 years. The TCE/SD-5S treatment system uses a proven technology called Extraction, Treatment and Reinjection. This system captures contaminants to stop the upwelling of these plumes into Johns Pond and restore the groundwater aquifer in this area. It draws groundwater up through two extraction wells installed in Hooppole Road in Mashpee. The extraction wells together will pump 175 gallons per minute through underground double-walled pipes to the Sandwich Road treatment plant, located on Back Road in Mashpee. The contaminants are removed from the water as it passes through 20,000-pound granular activated carbon vessels. The system has been designed to treat groundwater so that VOC concentrations are not detectable. The clean water is re-injected into the aquifer through existing wells located near the Sandwich Road treatment plant. For more information, please contact Mr. Douglas Karson, AFCEE/MMR Community Involvement Specialist, at (508) 968-4678, extension 2; Fax (508) 968-4673; or E-mail doug.karson@mmr.brooks.af.mil.
|
