Script:
PERC CLEAN UP
Graphic: DTSC Success Story
VO:
Every year thousands of Californians dry clean their clothes.
NATS of cleaning machines
VO:
You might think the cost of getting your clothing clean is just a little cash out of your pocket...but the environmental cost can be huge. That's because some of the cleaning solvents used are far from 'clean'...and that's causing a multimillion dollar problem that DTSC is tackling across California.
NATS of Excavator
Bite Karen Toth -- 01:25:35 to 01:29:37
"We're here at the Technichem site.
Butt to// 01:29:42 to 01:29:46
"This site was used for recycling dry cleaning solvents."
Music Break down/ NATS of excavation
Bite Karen Toth -- 01:30:18 to 1:30:28
"This particular property has soil contamination and a lot of times the dry cleaning solvents would spill onto the concrete and move into the soil."
VO/ With Graphic of Tetrachloroethylene molecule:
One of the most common dry-cleaning solvents is Tetrachloroethylene also known as PERC. It's a chemical that's terrific for getting rid of dirt and grease but even at low concentrations it can be toxic...and if it gets into the soil and ground water it can linger there for decades. Perc can possibly affecting the air we breathe as its vapors can migrate through the soil or groundwater and eventually end up inside our homes and businesses. PERC has also been linked to cancer.
Bite Karen Toth -- 1:30:53 to 1:31:02
"Solvents in the soil underneath the building can cause indoor vapors and those vapors can be harmful to the people using the buildings."
//But to 1:33:03 to 1:33:08
It can get into the ground water and the ground water in this location flows into San Francisco Bay."
VO:
This site is one of more than 300 perc contaminated sites in California that DTSC is cleaning up. The department is spending millions of tax payer dollars to protect our environment by removing this toxic chemical from our soil and groundwater.
NAT POP of Excavator
Bite Elizabeth Creek -- 00:58:35 -- 00:58:43
"Our job is to get that contaminated soil out so that this site can be used safely."
NATS Excavator
VO:
Sounds pretty simple right? You'd be wrong.
Bite Elizabeth Creek -- 00:56:04 to 00:56:09
"Turns out that this concrete floor is an integral part of what's holding up the roof.
VO:
ERRG, the company doing the digging, is taking special precautions to prevent the entire building from collapsing when they cut the concrete floor get to the contaminated soil.
NATS of clean up
VO:
To prevent the building from falling they divide the floor by lettered sections. Then they strategically dig holes to get to the contaminated soil and keep the building standing.
NATS of clean up
VO:
It's a dangerous and precise process that involves hundreds of hours of preparation, execution and science.
NATS/ B-roll of Elizabeth taking samples
Bite Elizabeth Creek -- 01:00:13 to 01:00:19
"Those are undisturbed samples of the bottom of our excavation."
VO (B-roll of soil and ECL lab with soil sample in test tube):
Lab tests are done on soil samples to measure the depth of contamination. This tells the crew how far they need to dig to be sure that all the toxic soil is removed.
NATS -- Digging and tractor taking dirt to dumpster
VO:
The excavated soil is no longer just regular dirt...it's now hazardous waste which needs to be carefully disposed of.
NATS of Rocks being poured onto ground
VO:
After the contaminated soil has been removed it's time to fill the resulting hole with new soil.
NATS of tractor dumping dirt into hole
Bite Karen Toth -- 1:33:45 to 1:33:56
"Really the biggest reason we do this is to make sure that people using the buildings as well as neighbors remain safe."
VO:
Something as simple as dry cleaning clothes can have a lasting effect on the environment...So play your part! Ask your dry cleaner if they're using PERC or something that's better for the environment! And help prevent more expensive cleanups like this one from occurring all over California.
On Screen Text:
We see a greener future
DTSC END SLATE
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