Groundwater contamination is nearly always the result of human activity. Environmental Logistics Co. provides cost-effective groundwater remediation solutions.
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
We are experts in groundwater contamination remediation.
Groundwater contamination is nearly always the result of human activity. In areas where population density is high and human use of the land is intensive, ground water is especially vulnerable. Groundwater contamination occurs when man-made products such as gasoline, oil and chemicals get into the groundwater and cause it to become unsafe and unfit for human use.
Virtually any activity whereby chemicals or wastes may be released to the environment, either intentionally or accidentally, has the potential to pollute groundwater. Materials from the land's surface can move through the soil and end up in the groundwater.
Remediation of groundwater contamination sites is propelled primarily by federally mandated programs and state-regulated programs, including groundwater protection programs and real estate transfer laws. Environmental Logistics Company has been providing first-class environmental remediation services for consultants, industrial, private, and municipal clients in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana for over 19 years.
Some potential sources of groundwater contamination.
Groundwater contamination is difficult and expensive to clean up. For example, pesticides and fertilizers can find their way into groundwater supplies over time. Road salt, toxic substances from mining sites, and used motor oil also may seep into groundwater. In addition, it is possible for untreated waste from septic tanks and toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks and leaky landfills to contaminate groundwater. Below are some potential groundwater contamination sources.
Storage Tanks
Underground and above ground storage tanks are commonly used to store petroleum products and other chemical substances. Many businesses and municipal highway departments also store gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, or chemicals in on-site tanks either be above or below ground.
Approximately 4 million underground storage tanks exist in the United States and, over the years, the contents of many of these tanks have leaked and spilled into the environment. If the contaminants leak out and get into the groundwater, serious contamination can occur.
Septic Systems
One of the main causes of ground water contamination in the United States is the effluent (outflow) from septic tanks, cesspools, and privies. Septic systems are designed to slowly drain away human waste underground at a slow, harmless rate. An improperly designed or maintained septic system can leak bacteria, viruses, household chemicals, and other contaminants into the groundwater causing serious problems.
Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste
Hazardous Waste should always be disposed of properly, by a licensed hazardous waste handler. Many substances used in industrial processes are stored at hazardous waste sites in barrels or containers and should never be disposed of in drains at the workplace because this can lead to groundwater contamination.
If there is a leak, these contaminants can eventually make their way down through the soil and into the groundwater. The many different types and the large quantities of chemicals used at industrial locations make proper disposal of wastes especially important for ground water protection.
Landfills
Landfills are the places that our garbage is taken to be buried. Landfills are supposed to have a protective bottom layer to prevent contaminants from getting into the water. Chemicals that should be disposed of in hazardous waste landfills sometimes end up in municipal landfills. Once in the landfill, chemicals can leach into the ground water by means of precipitation and surface runoff. New landfills are required to have clay or synthetic liners and leachate collection systems to protect ground water.
Older landfills were often sited over aquifers or close to surface waters and in permeable soils with shallow water tables, enhancing the potential for leachate to contaminate ground water. Closed landfills can continue to pose a ground water contamination threat if they are not capped with an impermeable material such as clay before closure to prevent the leaching of contaminants by precipitation.
Surface Impoundments
Surface impoundments are relatively shallow ponds or lagoons used by industries and municipalities to store, treat, and dispose of liquid wastes. As many as 180,000 surface impoundments exist in the United States. Like landfills, new surface impoundment facilities are required to have liners, but even these liners sometimes leak.
Improperly Abandoned Wells
Improperly abandoned wells can act as a conduit through which contaminants can reach an aquifer if the well casing has been removed, as is often done, or if the casing is corroded. In addition, some people use abandoned wells to dispose of wastes such as used motor oil. These wells may reach into an aquifer that serves drinking supply wells.
Environmental Logistics Company has the in-house capabilities to provide groundwater remediation based on site-specific factors and often takes into account cleanup goals based on potential risk that are protective of human health and the environment. Different technologies are effective for different types of contaminants, and several technologies are often combined to achieve effective treatment. We will select the best technology to achieve your cleanup goals.