Methods for enhancing bioremediation of ground water contaminated with
nonaqueous halogenated solvents are disclosed. An illustrative method
includes adding an electron donor for microbe-mediated anaerobic
reductive dehalogenation of the halogenated solvents, which electron
donor enhances mass transfer of the halogenated solvents from residual
source areas into the aqueous phase of the ground water. Illustrative
electron donors include C.sub.2-C.sub.4 carboxylic acids and hydroxy
acids, salts thereof, esters of C.sub.2-C.sub.4 carboxylic acids and
hydroxy acids, and mixtures thereof, of which lactic acid, salts of
lactic acid--such as sodium lactate, lactate esters, and mixtures thereof
are particularly illustrative. The microbes are either indigenous to the
ground water, or such microbes can be added to the ground water in
addition to the electron donor.