Soil and groundwater remediation have the same goal concerning environmental contamination, but both are entirely different remediation processes having a variety of methods, time frames and required expertise as well.
What they target
Soil remediation is for contamination in the top layers of earth – the dirt you can see and shovel. Groundwater remediation is about fixing the problem in the underground – water there contaminated with all sorts of toxins, clawing at aquifers that supply wells and send tributaries to rivers.
How contamination occurs
Surface spills, industrial activities and incorrect disposal of rubbish are the main causes for soil contamination. Historically, contaminants enter ground water due to influx from the surface and/or direct contamination by underground or piping beneath tanks.
Treatment approaches
So there are some more straight forward answers when it comes to soil remediation. The technology can result in removal of contaminated soil, on‐site treatment with chemicals or biological agents and the possibility to isolate it using a barrier.
Groundwater remediation is more complex. For Groundwater Remediation, visit soilfix.co.uk/services/groundwater-remediation
Pump-and-treat systems, which remove and clean water; in-situ chemical treatments where substances are injected into the ground to break down contaminants; or bioremediation – letting microbes already deep underground eat up hazardous materials.
Timeline differences
Soil remediation projects that might take several weeks to months. Because contaminants move more readily with water flow, groundwater remediation usually is a slow process that takes years of treatment and continued monitoring to ensure the situation does not worsen.
Cost implications
In general, soil remediation costs are more deterministic based on volume of contamination. The variation in plume size, depth and contaminant type often results in different groundwater remediation costs as the majority of controls use a treatment system with long-term response.
The connection
These processes are interconnected. Contamination of soil can remain untreated till it reaches the groundwater making soil remediation preventive action. But both methods may be generally needed in order to adequately address environmental pollution and protect human health, through a thorough site cleanup effort.
