The discovery of contaminated soil on a residential property can cause a lot of worry to the homeowner and his or her neighbours. Prompt action needs to be taken in order to prevent the contamination from posing a danger to human life and the environment. This article discusses some of the possible solutions that can be implemented once the contamination has been classified and quantified.

Chemical Decomposition

One way to deal with soil contaminated by volatile organic compounds and petroleum products is to break down those contaminants with chemicals. Chemical oxidants are injected into the soil. Those oxidants react with the contaminants until all those contaminants alter their chemical composition to a form that isn't harmful to humans or the environment.

Thermal Decomposition

Another solution entails heating the contaminated soil without removing that soil from your property. That intense heat causes the contaminants to vapourise. The vapour is captured using a vapour collection system. The collected vapour is then treated in order to convert it to a harmless form.

Biological Decomposition

It is also possible to decontaminate the soil on your property using biological means. This is particularly possible if the contaminants include hydrocarbons. Remediation involves introducing selected microorganisms into the contaminated soil. Those microorganisms feed on the contaminants and convert them into a substance that is not hazardous.

Soil Excavation

Another method that you can consider in order to deal with contaminated soil on your property involves removing all that soil from your property. This method is usually preferred in case the contaminant is a substance, such as lead, that can leach into underground water sources. Remediation experts excavate all the contaminated soil. That soil is then safely loaded onto appropriate vehicles for transportation to approved disposal sites, such as landfills. Many homeowners prefer this method because they feel safer when all the contaminated soil has been taken far from their property.

As you can see, different methods are suitable for dealing with different kinds of soil contamination. You may therefore need to talk to a soil remediation expert so that he or she conducts extensive tests on your property in order to establish the kind of contamination that is prevalent on your property. That professional will then take you through the pros and cons of the different solutions that can be applied in your particular case. You will then be able to make an informed decision about the best way to deal with that contamination.

Share