Managing an Environmental Remediation Plan

Environmental remediation is a process that tackles the removal of impurities or contaminants from the Earth or works to prevent future incidents from taking place. If left untreated, these areas can generate more pollution and cause harm to the general public and the environment. The purpose of a remediation cleanup project is not just to eliminate the cause of the pollutants, but there is also an extensive effort involved to clean the polluted soil and water that surrounds the cause of the problem.

There are a variety of remediation types, such as groundwater remediation, landfill cleanup, and Brownfield site preparation, among others.

Groundwater Remediation

Groundwater can become polluted in a variety of ways, such as over-application of either fertilizer or pesticides, accidental spills from industrial operations, infiltration that stems from urban runoff, or leakage from landfills. If left untreated, contaminated groundwater is a hazard to public health because it can lead to the spread of disease or poisoning of the population.

Landfill Cleanup

Two-thirds of landfill waste decomposes and rots, and emits two greenhouse gases, CO2 and Methane while doing so. In addition, landfills pollute the soil and water supply around them.

Brownfield Site Preparation

Brownfield land is a previously developed piece of property not currently in use that may potentially be contaminated. In some cases, the land was previously used for industrial or commercial use.

Remediation Steps

Managing an environmental remediation plan is a multi-step process. It begins with a highly detailed assessment of the area in order to identify exactly where the problems might be and how far they extend. In some cases, testing wells are repeatedly dug around a suspected source until a map can be formed that outlines which segments are affected. In situ, or on-site inspection and remediation are always performed for the maximum effectiveness and safety since hazardous waste doesn’t have to be transported anywhere.

If water is contaminated, it needs to be pumped out and cleaned. There are several methods for this. Pump-and-treat is the most commonly used. Bioremediation is the injection of microorganisms like bacteria, archaea, and fungi into the soil. The purpose is to have the microbes eat the pollutants in the soil. This can help speed up the entire process as the water is being treated simultaneously.