SOIL AND GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES

Urban areas typically contain numerous sites underlain by soils or gro und waters which are contaminated to levels that exceed clean-up guide lines and are hazardous to public health. Contamination most commonly results from the disposal, careless use and spillage of chemicals, or the historic importation of contaminated fill onto properties undergoi ng redevelopment. Contaminants of concern in soil and ground water inc lude: inorganic chemicals such as heavy metals, radioactive metals, sa lt and inorganic pesticides, and a range of organic chemicals included within petroleum fuels, coal tar products, PCB oils, chlorinated solv ents, and pesticides. Dealing with contaminated sites is a major probl em affecting all urban areas and a wide range of different remedial te chnologies are available. This chapter reviews the more commonly used methods for ground-water and soil remediation, paying particular regar d to efficiency and applicability of specific treatments to different site conditions.