Remediation of Contaminated Soils

Soil Removal

• Contamination that is small in area or unresponsive to in-situ technologies is a good candidate for soil excavation. You can remove contaminated soil from a property using a backhoe or shovel and put the soil in buckets, drums or roll-offs. Some landfills will accept contaminated soil depending on the type and severity of the impact, or you can send the soil to a treatment facility that can clean it and make it reusable. Soil removal works for a variety of situations but it may become expensive if the contamination is widespread or severe.

Soil Vapor Extraction

• Soil vapor extraction, also known as soil venting or vacuum extraction, is a popular method of treating volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in soil. An SVE system consists of a series of vacuum extraction wells placed throughout the contaminated zone. A vacuum pump pulls air through the area, volatilizing the organic compounds and removing the vapors from the subsurface. This technology works well in permeable soil, such as sand or soil combinations with a high sand content. SVE is generally a cost-effective option and is proven to work well and quickly. A final remedial stage of natural attenuation -- reduction by natural processes such as biodegradation -- is common with SVE projects.

Phytoremediation

• Phytoremediation is the use of plants to remove contamination from subsurface soil. The plants will uptake soil pollution through their root system to remove the contamination in the area. Phytoremediation is visually pleasing because it often involves planting many shrubs, trees or flowers in the contaminated zone. Many plants are effective for a variety of pollutants, making phytoremediation a good alternative for sites that are abandoned or areas that do not have surface obstructions.

Natural Attenuation

• Natural attenuation, or monitored natural attenuation, is a remedial method where constituents naturally degrade. You can boost natural attenuation in an area by injecting microorganisms that feed on the pollutants or air that increases their activity to help break down the contamination. Natural attenuation works well for organic contamination such as fuels and solvents that readily degrade. Routine monitoring is necessary to ensure proper remediation of the area and is useful in coordination with active remedial methods such as SVE and excavation.