Water is essential for all life on the planet but pollution and other water issues keep many of the world’s inhabitants lack access to clean water. More than 95% of the United States’ available fresh water resources comes from groundwater. This provides drinking water for about half of the nation’s population. Between 85 and 95% of pollutants are removed through primary and secondary waste treatments before it is then disinfected and returned to the local waterways. Environmental pollution remains a problem. In terms of hazardous waste sites around the country, more than 80% of them do negatively impact water in the area. Newer remediation equipment and techniques make cleaning up waste water possible.
- The goal of all groundwater remediation is to clean up polluted water. Keeping the American water supply clean is critically important. Here is a description of some of the measures that are taken to achieve this goal.
Using biology to clean the water. Microorganisms, organic material and even plants have been used to handle water remediation. Basically, the microorganisms and organic materials can break down the chemicals that are polluting the water. This is a very environmentally friendly way to clean water. Using methods such as bioaugmentation, bioventing, and biosparging are some of the ways companies and the government can clean polluted water. For using plants, the process is called phytoremediation. In this process, trees and other plants absorb the contaminants through their roots. This is also a very convenient way to handle water remediation needs as the trees and plants are already in the the ground so that there is no need to remove the water for the groundwater to be cleaned.
- Let chemistry handle it. There are multiple ways to fight groundwater contamination using chemistry. Oxidation, ion exchange, carbon absorption and chemical precipitation all work to remove pollutants from groundwater. This is a more expensive way to deal with remediation projects but can often work when other methods are not applicable or available. It also takes longer than working with other methodsThese methods are the only ways to remove certain chemicals from the groundwater in some areas. There are about 16,000 chemical spills each year around the country. These are caused by spills from trains, storage tanks and trucks. This most often happens when the chemicals are being transferred from one location to another. Many of these negatively impact the local water supply and using chemical means to remove the pollution from that water may seem counterintuitive but it can also be an effective way to do it. For some chemical problems, this is the only way that will work.
- Get physical with your groundwater remediation. This has to be one of the most rudimentary of the groundwater remediation methods. Air can be used to remove the pollutants from the water. Remediation equipment can be brought in a method that is called “pump and treat.” The water is literally removed from the ground and then one of the other methods is used to physically get the contaminants from the water. Another form of physical groundwater remediation is called the dual phase extraction. Basically, the groundwater remediation equipment that is used is a high powered vacuum to suck up the dirt and the contaminated water in it.
Not having clean drinking water is not an option. Given how much of the American drinking water supply is from groundwater being able to effectively clean the water so that it is safe for human consumption is vitally important. Groundwater contamination is a real problem around the country. When tested, it has been reported that nearly 15% of water in wells have levels of pesticides that rise to the level of contamination. New groundwater remediation and methods make cleaning that water possible. If you have a problem with contaminated ground water, it possible to rent remediation equipment. On the flip side of that, there are many reputable and qualified environmental remediation contracting services that can help with that as well.
The good news about groundwater remediation is that there are now effective methods to take care of most contamination to leave you with clean and fresh and great tasting drinking water.
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