Soil remediation is the collective term for various strategies that are used to purify and revitalize soil. This process of soil cleanup is part of a broader effort known as environmental remediation, which can also include efforts to purify the air and other wise repair damage done to the ecological balance of the planet. Many countries are actively engaged in some type of land remediation, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
In most cases, efforts aimed at cleaning up the soil are structured at national government levels. In the United States, the approach to soil remediation is based on directives issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Canada, the Council of Ministers of the Environment provide support to the collective efforts of each province to conduct remediation and reclamation efforts relevant to the environmental challenges of each geographical location. At present, the countries involved in the European Union are also creating standards that will serve as the foundation for organized remediation strategies.
There are a number of different methods currently employed in the process of dealing with soil contamination. Often, the selection of the most effective strategy will depend on the nature of the contamination, how the method will impact surrounding wildlife or humans living in the general vicinity, and the degree of success that can be anticipated from the soil remediation effort. It is not unusual for a given tract of land to undergo more than one cleanup operation in order to deal with the presence of multiple contaminants.
Among the processes used in soil remediation, excavation and dredging are among the most common. This process involves extracting soil that is contaminated and deemed to be unrecoverable using current technology, and transporting it to a landfill set aside for this purpose. Often, purified soil is used to fill in the area where the extraction took place.
Soil remediation is sometimes accomplished using a process known as pump and treat. Essentially, this approach involves the removal of contaminated ground water, then using various methods to purify the extracted liquid. While the water is purified, the soil is also extracted and filtered to remove various contaminants, then returned to its original position. The purified water is pumped back into the purified soil, effectively restoring the ecological balance of the area.
As technology advances, newer methods at reclaiming contaminated soil are under development. This will make it possible to purify land and make it possible to use the area for growing food, creating wildlife preserves, or even allowing humans to safely construct dwellings or commercial buildings in the area. At the same time, ridding the ground of unsafe contaminants will support efforts to clean the air and water, making the world a safer place for all living things.
By Malcolm Tatum