GIS Aids Dry Cleaner Water Resources Risk Analysis
EPA Department of Toxic Substance Control Uses Geospatial Analysis to Target Site Remediation
Environmental Observer, Spring 2010
“Need to get that stain out of your favorite business suit? Surely the local dry cleaner shop can remove it. For years, dry cleaners have used perchloroethylene (perc) to efficiently remove spots from garments. But what is good for your clothes is not good for your health, because perc is a carcinogen. The residue produced in dry cleaning processes is classified as hazardous waste that contaminates soil and gets into the drinking water. In California, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) has been using ESRI’s geographic information system (GIS) technology to locate and prioritize community sites that have been contaminated by dry cleaning chemicals and need remediation.”
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