The Town of Salem was recently recognized with an Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies for the successful thermal remediation of the former wastewater treatment facility property located off South Broadway.

The award was submitted jointly with Verdantas and Parsons and highlights the Town’s efforts to address soil and groundwater impacts from historical site conditions through the use of electrical resistance heating, also known as ERH. This innovative technology uses electrical currents to heat the subsurface and treat impacted soil and groundwater.

The remediation process included a 4.5-month heating period in 2023. Following treatment, post-remediation sampling showed more than a 99.9 percent reduction in trichloroethylene, also known as TCE, concentrations in soil and groundwater. The project achieved the Soil Remediation Standards established by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for TCE and other chlorinated organic compounds.

Following completion of the thermal remediation work, approximately 8,300 tons of sludge and soil containing polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, were excavated and removed from the property. Based on the results of more than 1,600 samples analyzed for PCBs, the project also achieved stringent cleanup standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

This project marks a significant environmental achievement for the Town of Salem and reflects a successful partnership with Verdantas and Parsons. With remediation work completed, future discussions may continue regarding the potential use of this land.