For every plume of groundwater contamination, there is a source – whether it’s a small, isolated point like an underground storage tank (UST) or a large non-point source such as a field of contaminated fill material. Treating the source is like shutting off a tap: once no new contamination enters the groundwater, the plume begins to shrink and, over time, can disappear altogether.
The act of source remediation can come in many forms. Typically, it involves treatment of soil, as a large amount of mass is often bound up in soil as non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), which is the pure liquid form of contamination that acts as a continuous source as it slowly dissolves into the groundwater. Learn more about AEL’s soil remediation services.
Furthermore, there may be multiple sources. For these reasons, it is important to ensure that a proper Phase One and Two Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) have been carried out prior to investment in a source remediation.
Identifying the Source
A contaminant source may be:
- Documented – for example, a UST with a known and recorded location and use history
- Undocumented – areas where chemicals were historically dumped
- On-site or off-site – sources can be on your or a neighbours property. If the source is on your property, you may wish to consider remediating it. If the source is on a neighbouring property, a Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB) may be your best option.
Treatment and Benefits of Using Source Remediation
The main benefits of addressing contamination at its source are timeliness and cost effectiveness. Rather than continuously treating contaminated groundwater with multiple and costly interventions over decades, source remediation:
- Eliminates the origin of the contamination
- Reduces or eliminates the need for long-term groundwater treatment
- Protects property value and reduces financial risk
- Supports financing and redevelopment goals
Many different technologies may be employed for source remediation, depending on the type of contamination, concentrations, source size/location and other site constraints. When deciding how to treat a contaminated property, Client-specific factors such as timeline, desired outcome, and budget must be at the forefront of decision making. To determine how to best treat the contamination at your property, ask AEL for a Remedial Action Plan (RAP).
If you’re dealing with groundwater contamination, stopping it at the source may be the most cost-effective way forward
Ready to take the next step towards remediating your property?
We invite you to discuss your site-specific goals and situation with our team of experts.