PCE Contamination

PCE Contamination Expert Witness: Trusted Testimony for Water Supply Litigation

Specializing in PCE contamination and PCE water contamination cases, my services help attorneys, insurers, and property owners identify how perchloroethylene enters groundwater and public sewer systems and assess potential responsibility.

Maybe you’re dealing with a PCE plume. Maybe there’s a lawsuit over sewer leakage. Or maybe your water supply got contaminated and you need answers. Either way, I can walk you through what happened, why it happened, and how to explain it clearly to a judge or jury.

Who I Am and Why It Matters

Bonneau Dickson, PE, has worked as an independent sanitary engineer since 1993. He’s based in Berkeley, CA. My background blends two things: hands-on civil engineering and forensic investigation. On the engineering side, I’ve designed and inspected water lines, sewers, pump stations, and wastewater facilities. On the forensic side, I dig into what went wrong and serve as an expert witness.

Why does that combination matter? Because PCE contamination cases aren’t just legal puzzles. They’re engineering problems first. So you need someone who truly understands sewer construction standards, how pipes leak over time, and how PCE actually moves through soil and groundwater. Not just someone who skims a lab report and repeats it back.

What is PCE Contamination, and How Does It Reach Groundwater?

Perchloroethylene, or PCE, is a solvent that dry cleaners have used for decades. Here’s the problem: when it’s discharged the wrong way, it can seep through cracked or aging sewer pipes. From there, it travels into the soil and down into the groundwater.

Over time, this creates what’s called a PCE plume. And plumes are sneaky. They can spread quietly for years before anyone notices a thing.

As a Perchloroethylene contamination litigation expert, I’ve worked on several cases where dry cleaning businesses were linked to sewer leakage. My work has covered:

• Sewer construction design standards
• Leakage rates for different pipe materials
• Colmation; a process where sewage buildup actually seals small leaks over time, which changes how and when contamination spreads

How My Expert Witness Process Works

Here’s how I approach a case, step by step:

1. Case review. First, I dig into site history, sewer maps, and any prior testing. This helps me piece together a contamination timeline.
2. Technical evaluation. Next, I assess pipe conditions, maintenance records, and how the contamination likely moved; whether as vapor or liquid.
3. Plain-language reporting. Then, I translate the engineering findings into language attorneys, insurers, and juries can actually follow. No jargon overload, I promise.
4. Testimony. Finally, I’m ready to testify, whether that’s a deposition or a full trial.

Real Case Experience You Can Check

I’ve served as a PCE water supply expert on cases across California. For example:

• A PCE plume beneath a building in Davis
• A shopping center dispute in Cerritos
• Federal litigation in Woodland
• An insurance cost-recovery case involving the City of Lodi

Each case raised different questions. Some focused on standard of care. Others centered on sewer maintenance duty, or on which party should pay for remediation. In every case, I brought the technical grounding needed to help move things forward.

Why Choose Me Over Another Expert?

Plenty of engineers can read a lab report. Fewer have actually designed, inspected, and maintained the water and wastewater systems at the center of these disputes. That’s the difference.

My hands-on design and construction background helps me spot issues that a purely academic expert might miss; things like pipe joint failure or colmation. On top of that, I keep my caseload focused on purpose. That way, every client gets direct attention from Bonneau Dickson himself. Not a junior associate.

Need to Discuss Your Case?

If you’re facing a PCE contamination dispute, or you need a water supply expert who understands the engineering behind the lawsuit, don’t wait. Reach out today. Contact Bonneau Dickson, PE, to schedule a consultation and get a clear, honest read on your case!

Frequently Asked Questions