Groundwater Remediation Systems
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Groundwater Remediation - Overview

Groundwater pumping is a component of many pump-and-treat processes.The primary objectives of groundwater pumping include the removal of dissolved contaminants from the subsurface and containment of contaminated groundwater to prevent migration.

The first step of any remediation project consists of defining the remedial action objectives to be accomplished at the site. This involves gathering enough background information and field data to assess remedial requirements and possible cleanup levels. The first determination is whether cleanup or containment will be the most appropriate remedial action. If cleanup is chosen, the level of cleanup must be determined. If containment is chosen, groundwater pumping is used as a hydraulic barrier to prevent off-site migration of the contaminant plumes.

The next step consists of the design and implementation of the groundwater pumping system, based on data evaluated in setting the goals and objectives. The criteria for well design, pumping system, and treatment are dependent on the physical site characteristics and contaminant type. Actual treatment may include a train of processes such as gravity segregation, air strippers, and carbon systems tailored to remove specific contaminants.

Another step of any groundwater extraction system is a groundwater-monitoring program to verify its effectiveness. Monitoring the remedial system with wells and piezometers allows the operator to adjust the system in response to changes in subsurface conditions caused by the remediation.

The final step is determining the termination requirements. Termination requirements are based on the cleanup objectives defined in the initial stage of the remedial process. The termination criteria are also dependent on the site-specific aspects revealed during remedial operations.

Groundwater pump and treat technologies may include one or more of the following processes: