Altus Air Force Base, OK
Federal Facility
Federal Facility
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Altus Air Force
Base Bioreactor
Cross-Section
Altus Air Force
Base Solar
System
Cleanup Objectives: Biodegrade a volatile organic compound (VOC) hotspot 10-18 feet below ground surface in a remote location
Green Remediation Strategy: Treats ground water in a 10,000 square-foot bioreactor containing organic waste products
- Used woody waste supplied by a local municipality
- Obtained cotton-gin trash from the local cotton industry
- Relies exclusively on electricity generated by an onsite 200-watt photovoltaic array to recirculate ground water through the treatment system
- Employs a small submersible pump designed for solar applications and suitably sized for low rates of ground-water transfer
Results:
- Avoids air emissions associated with consumption of grid electricity
- Found beneficial use for waste products generated by local organizations
- Achieves increased concentrations of VOC break-down compounds
- Transfers 1,300 cubic meters of carbon-enriched leachate into the aquifer each year
- Maintains a ground-water flow rate of 928 gallons each day
- Avoided significant cost for connection to the electricity grid
- Incurred capital costs of only $2,300 for the pump/solar system
- Provides low-maintenance alternative for potentially extended time
- Provides opportunity of re-using alternative energy source with 20- to 30-year lifespan at other locations or sites
Property End Use: Continued military operations
Point of Contact: Jim Gonzales, AFCEE
Update: February 2008
