This well is used to inject the protein source — whey powder — for microorganisms in an in situ bio-remediation process.
Workers at the Idaho site have enlisted microbes to help remediate previously contaminated groundwater and advance the protection of the Snake River Plain Aquifer.
The microbes in the aquifer are fed a mixture of sodium lactate and whey powder, a common ingredient found in sport protein drinks.
“The microbes eat it, and in the process break down
trichloroethylene (TCE). Although TCE is a carcinogen, the end products are harmless,” said Lorie Cahn, environmental lead for Environmental Restoration (ER) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) at CH2M-WG Idaho (CWI), the Idaho site’s main cleanup contractor.