What Land Remediation Services Are Currently Used For

By Bill Bailey


When redeveloping land, it isn't as easy as simply moving everything from the site and rebuilding a brand new building to begin a new chapter. Regularly, depending on the nature of what the site was utilised for formerly, pollutants and contaminants must be removed in order for that land to be safe for redevelopment and future use. Various land remediation services may be employed to take out undesirable contaminants from a site in order to safeguard human health as well as the environment.

Assessment will be the first step in any land remediation project because this will determine exactly what the problem is by finding out what the site was initially used for and how it will be reused in the future. To evaluate which materials and toxins remain on the site, chemical analysis and sampling will be used. Once identified the pollutants can be eliminated so that the site can be proclaimed safe for redevelopment.

There are two key ways of performing land remediation services - firstly by excavating pollutants in situ and secondly by doing so ex-situ. Basically, in situ removal involves the the treatment of of groundwater and soil to ensure that all identified toxins are removed without having to take any of the soil off site. During ex-situ removal, contaminated soil is excavated and removed to a land fill site and in its place clean soil can be used for the redevelopment.

It is not only the ground that can become contaminated by pollutants but also the groundwater. When pollutants are released into the ground they can also affect the groundwater, making the water supply unsafe for humans or wildlife. Groundwater remediation can be carried out on site to make it safe for reuse. There are several different methods for cleaning up the groundwater such as installing in situ heating systems to quickly remove impurities, or the more traditional method of pumping and treating water.

Remediation experts will be called upon to clear up groundwater and soil for redevelopment but they may also be tasked with cleaning up landfill sites in light of the fact there are now stricter rules and controls governing the treatment of waste. The modern day landfill site is more a complex engineering operation than simply a rubbish dump and it is important these sites do not pose any danger or threat to future generations. Ultimately they need to be working towards a decrease in the disposal of waste and a reduced need for landfill sites, but as this is not always possible, remediation of landfills is the next best option.

Depending upon what a site was used for in the past and how it will be redeveloped in the future, any land remediation assignment has the potential to be long winded and drawn out. Local people and stakeholders may need to be consulted and the health risks associated with not carrying out remediation will also have to be carefully evaluated so that accurate information can be presented to anyone who might be affected by the redevelopment of the new site. At each stage of this process, remediation specialists will need to be involved to ensure the overall project is finished satisfactorily for everyone - including developers, future land owners or users and the local community.




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