The Soil Remediation Pros
Experts delivering quality and professional soil remediation services.
Soil Remediation & Treatment
Many property owners are unaware of the dangerous contaminants lingering within their soil. Such pollutants can cause severe health problems for everyone who frequents the property.
There is a solution to this problem. A soil remediation expert such as Stewart Environmental can provide you with the necessary treatment to stabilize your soil and move it to a healthy state once again.
But first, let us help you understand soil remediation, what it is, its techniques and why you may need soil remediation services for your New Jersey property.
What is Soil Remediation?
Soil remediation is mitigating and managing the risks that contaminated soils present to the environment and human health. In short, it means using technology to make contaminated soil safe again.
Soil contamination results from unregulated waste disposal practices. This same contamination also stems from historical industrial processes.
Businesses and organizations may have been complying with the law at the time. However, even when organizations follow safe and legal practices, soil contamination can still occur over time. In addition, advancements in testing methods will often result in discovering the negative impact of practices deemed safe in the past.
Where Does Soil Contamination Come From?
Soil contamination stems from any one of several different sources. Here are a few familiar sources:
- Chemicals
- Improper disposal of industrial wastes
- Tank leaks
- Pipe leaks
- Product spills
Because of such practices or accidents, tests will reveal contaminants such as solvents, oils, paints, heavy metals, pesticides, and manufactured chemicals in the soil. The new research used by soil remediation services will detect the contaminants in the ground, whether they’re old or new.
How To Know If Soil Is Contaminated
When an inspector determines a tank shows signs of corrosion or obvious holes, it will fail the inspection. When this happens, our subsurface evaluator will come to your site and take soil samples.
The results will determine if there is contamination and, if so, the extent.
Soil testing results are typically ready in about two weeks, although may be expedited in the event of a time constraint like a closing.
The Process
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When the town inspector fails an underground storage tank removal, a DEP case must be opened. Secondly, our subsurface evaluator or LSRP will dispatch to the site. The soil that appears to be contaminated will be excavated and stockpiled on heavy gauge lasting sheeting on the site.
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Soil sample testing will performed on the stockpile to determine the type of contaminants. Samples will also be taken from the sides and bottom of the excavation site to determine if all of the contamination has been removed and the remaining soil is free of contamination.
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Once the soil samples are free of contamination, results will be forwarded to a nearby soil disposal facility for approval to dispose of. When all is complete, a manifest will be sent to the DEP to close the case so an NFA letter (No further Action) can be obtained from the DEP.
Types of Soil Remediation
Soil remediation experts use various techniques to treat contaminated soil, from chemical treatments to living organisms. Here are the most common types of soil remediation techniques.
Chemical and Physical Treatment
One technique is solidification and stabilization to remediate contaminated soil. With this treatment, soil our remediation technicians will use a combination of quicklime, LKD or Calciment lime kiln dust, cement, and fly ash in the soil. These chemicals ultimately change the waste’s physical nature by encasing and drying the contaminants. In the end, you are left with a solid particle of contaminant.
Our network of experts will also use the process of chemical oxidation. With this process, a variety of dry and liquid chemicals convert the contaminants into less toxic chemicals. Then, our technicians use specialized equipment to inject safe chemicals into the soil.
Thermal Treatments
In addition, we also use low-temperature techniques to heat contaminated soil. They place soil in dryers with a heat range between 300 degrees Fahrenheit to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Our soil experts will also use higher heat techniques or incineration techniques. In this case, our technician will heat the soil in a kiln with temperatures between 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit and 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
These treatments ultimately destroy the contaminants or drive them off, converting them into a form of gas. The soil technicians will then treat the gas using different methods.
Bioremediation
Bioremediation refers to using living organisms to break down the pollutants in the soil. Experts who use microorganisms or plants to treat contaminated soil are focused on combining chemistry, biology, geology, and engineering ideas.
Why Groundwater Remediation
Suppose your underground storage tank has leaked, and the contents have seeped not only into the soil but also into the groundwater.
In that case, you may need a monitoring well that the subsurface evaluator or LSRP would determine. Samples will be taken of the groundwater and sent out for testing.
Once the contamination levels are determined, remediation may be needed. Future well monitoring and groundwater remediation may also become necessary, depending upon the extent of the contamination.
Get Help Today
Soil remediation treatments are essential to keeping a clean, safe environment. However, you ultimately have choices when you need to have contaminants contained or removed from your soil.
Are you looking for a qualified soil expert? If so, contact Stewart Environmental. Our technicians are soil remediation experts and can provide a technique that best works for your needs.