When you suspect an oil spill or other type of contaminant has seeped into your soil, it is imperative that you remedy the situation as quickly as possible. While you are considering several approaches to cleaning contaminated soil, work with an expert team to find out the best soil remediation process for your situation.
Can you leave contaminated soil untreated? Unfortunately, toxic soil has adverse effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, it is irresponsible and illegal to let known contamination go untreated. This article will help you explore approaches to cleaning contaminated soil so you can get started on the remediation process.
Harmful Effects of Soil Contamination
The hazardous materials that have seeped into the soil can be harmful to any person or animal that comes in contact with the earth. You do not want to be responsible for the ailments of people in your community due to neglecting your contaminated soil problem. So, take a look at some of the detrimental effects of soil contamination:
- Leaks into groundwater: The hazardous waste in the soil can spread through the ground and into the groundwater layer under the soil. This soil is used for irrigation throughout the community.
- Gets into household water: When there is an oil spill in the surrounding areas, the contaminant can leak into the pipes and into drinking water. Detecting an oil sheen in household water is a sign of contaminated soil in the area and a cue to research approaches to cleaning contaminated soil.
- Creates gas that people breathe in their homes: Toxic substances release a gas that can leak into homes and businesses. If you smell oil, gasoline, or other hazardous smells, do not ignore them. The gases are poisonous when not well-ventilated.
- Spread to neighboring soil: If you have knowledge of soil contamination that then spreads to other properties, you have a liability on your hands. Get the problem solved as soon as possible so that you’re not looking at lawsuits on top of the remediation costs.
- Hurts animals: When animals interact with the toxic soil, they can become sick and die. Compare and contrast approaches to cleaning contaminated soil so that you can get started on soil remediation.
- Kills plant life: Another sign that your soil is contaminated is dying plants or the inability to grow vegetation on your property. Plants will not thrive when the ground has a toxic substance running through it. When you see how powerful the contaminant is that it will not grow any viable vegetation, you will realize how quickly you need to take care of the problem.
You have a responsibility to the environment and humanity to take care of contaminated soil the moment you learn about the problem. If you are unsure where to start, meet with Mikula Contracting to get the soil tested and learn about approaches to cleaning contaminated soil.
Different Cleaning Methods for Contaminated Soil
As you are researching approaches to cleaning contaminated soil, weigh the options of disposal vs. site treatment. You do not have to dispose of the soil and backfill it with all new soil. Some options for cleaning contaminated soil include:
Soil Remediation
With soil remediation, the soil is cleansed with a liquid wash solution. These basic approaches to cleaning include washing away the fine sediments within the soil that are more likely to have toxic substances attached to them.
This fine soil is separated from sands and gravel, and then the larger pieces are clean and can be safely reused. This treatment is usually done at a facility where the soil is transported and placed back when the remediation is complete.
Chemical Oxidation
The soil can stay in place with this process as chemical oxidants are infused into the dirt, destroying the contaminants. This is done by activated carbon, air stripping/aeration, and chemical precipitation. The chemicals engulf the toxin, destroying it and making the soil clean again.
You can also use chemical oxidation to change the chemical makeup of the toxin so that it’s ready for other approaches to cleaning contaminated soil. For example, some remediation processes require multiple steps to clean the soil properly.
Bioremediation
One of the many approaches to cleaning contaminated soil includes bioremediation. This method can treat the soil in place. With this method, bacteria are released into the soil, and they consume hazardous substances. Once the bacteria have done their job, they die off.
One thing to keep in mind with bioremediation is you need optimal conditions for the method to work. For example, minimal rain and a continuous temperature of 70 degrees are required for the bacteria to work most efficiently. You can cover the ground and try to create these conditions, but the process will take longer if these criteria are not met.
With this list of approaches to cleaning contaminated soil, you have a starting point for your soil remediation project. You may not know where to start, and that’s okay. You can seek advice from soil remediation experts before choosing which process is best for your contaminated soil.
Soil remediation is constantly changing with several approaches to cleaning contaminated soil that are convenient and affordable. But, most importantly, the job has to get done. It is vital to clear your soil of contaminants and prevent the spread of environmental toxins.
Soil Remediation in NJ
When you choose Mikula Contracting for soil remediation, you are going with professionals in the business for over 70 years. Our family-owned business has built a solid reputation throughout the years. We work to develop life-long relationships with the people we serve so that you can always have a trusted contractor in mind for whatever life throws at you.
Our team at Mikula Contracting is ready to present our approaches to cleaning contaminated soil so we can find the best solution for you. There is no time to waste when it comes to toxic soil on your property. Contact us today to get started on remediation efforts.
