Kevin Moore

Closing the Loop: Full-Scale Chlorinated Solvent Remediation via Recirculation

Kevin Moore, National Sales Director, ETEC, Inc.

Background/Objectives: 

A former dry-cleaning facility in a commercial shopping center, operational for several decades, caused groundwater contamination with chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs), including tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride. Releases through a floor drain and in the area upgradient of the building created a source zone beneath the structure. Assessments delineated CVOC plumes in a shallow sandy aquifer, posing vapor intrusion risks to occupied space above.    

Approach/Activities: 

Enhanced In Situ Bioremediation (EISB) via enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) was deployed using ETEC's CarBstrate™, a nutrient-amended, carbohydrate-based electron donor, distributed by the In Situ Delivery (ISD™) system. The system treated a 60,000-square-foot source area, with emphasis on treatment beneath the building via three horizontal injection wells installed using directional drilling at 4-6 ft bgs as blind bores. Groundwater was extracted from five wells, amended with CarBstrate™, and reinjected at 4 gpm via nine vertical and three horizontal wells, targeting vadose zone soils and the shallow groundwater zone. Over a two-year period approximately 4.5 million gallons of amended groundwater was recirculated.    

Results/Lessons Learned: 

Monitoring during and after treatment confirmed achievement of very low Florida CGTL cleanup goals, reducing peak CVOC concentration from 16,000 μg/L CVOCs. Very little to no rebound occurred during the two-year groundwater recirculation treatment and during the seven-year post remedial monitoring period.    This study validates ETEC's CarBstrate™ and ISD™ for scalable EISB applications at urban sites, particularly highlighting horizontal injection efficacy of horizontal injection for sub-slab CVOC attenuation through enhanced desorption and microbial dehalogenation, all without disrupting business operations. Key findings include substrate dosing optimization, low-disturbance system installation, and data analysis.  

National Technical Director | Bioremediation Specialist  We bridge the gap between complex site geochemistry and rigid regulatory frameworks to design high-performing environmental remediation solutions. Kevin leverages over two decades of specialized expertise in bioremediation, groundwater recirculation, and advanced product dosing mechanics to solve complex subsurface contamination challenges nationwide.    Kevin excels at translating sophisticated site characterization data into actionable, scientifically sound engineering strategies. His technical authority is grounded in an in-depth understanding of microbial kinetics, electron donor delivery, and contaminant degradation pathways. Known for his methodical approach to site modeling and system optimization, he excels at leading technical engineering teams, mentoring junior specialists, and implementing robust data-driven operational frameworks.    Kevin holds a degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and actively contributes to the advancement of the field as a peer mentor, speaker, and technical session chair at major national environmental engineering conferences.