GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION

Contaminated Groundwater Remediation Services

In the early phases of a construction projects, not only should the soil be sampled, but groundwater remediation must be conducted as well if it’s in fact nessasary. This is why groundwater sampling is especially vital in the planning phases of a residential community, as the water may be used for various purposes, such as drinking, bathing, dish and clothing washing.

Groundwater is water that exists beneath the Earth’s surface in the pores of the soil, and in the fractures of rock. The permeable, water-bearing rock, fractures, or other materials such as gravel, sand or silt, are called aquifers. From aquifers, groundwater can be extracted, typically using a well. Where all pores and fractures are saturated with water, this is called the zone of saturation. The upper surface of the zone of saturation is called the water table.

Groundwater Sampling is performed to meet various state regulatory requirements, to monitor site waste disposal, to monitor ambient groundwater quality, general research and monitoring general bacteriological and chemical quality. Each of these purposes can require a different set of protocols for the groundwater sampling. Because groundwater moves through the soil (at different rates depending on the soil’s density, water could move through sandy material roughly 50 feet per hour, but through clay it may take 6 weeks to 6 months to move half an inch), contamination can be carried and spread to a adjacent properties.

The decision is then to treat the groundwater and soil on site, or dispose of it. In some cases, the Earth’s natural bacteria and enzymes will help consume certain contaminates, such as petroleum. In all other cases, we treat the soil with nutrients and enzymes to remediate the groundwater. Water must be treated, using various techniques depending on the contamination on site before it can be discharged. This can be done with hazardous and non-hazardous contaminated groundwater. Sometimes, depending on the requirements of the project, dewatering is necessary. This process is the removal of water from the soil by a variety of liquid separation processes.

Once the soil and groundwater are deemed clean, then project can move on to its next phase.