Can land remediation be sustainable?

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Land contamination and its effects on the global ecosystem is a major environmental concern. The legal definition of contaminated land is where hazardous substances could significantly pollute soil, rivers, lakes or groundwater, in addition to causing harm to people, property, or protected species.
How does land contamination occur?

As noted in the government’s guidance on the matter, contamination is more likely to occur on land formerly used for industrial activity; however, contamination can also be found in rural areas from agricultural waste or contaminants being dumped from another area. Contamination from naturally occurring substances, such as ground gases, radon or certain metallic elements, can also be a cause for concern.

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How does land remediation work?

Aimed at restoring land to a condition whereby it no longer poses a risk to humans, property or the ecosystem, land remediation is broadly performed in four stages:

1. A preliminary site investigation. The history of the land use is examined in the context of its geography and geology.

2. An onsite investigation. Samples may be taken from boreholes drilled into the land for laboratory testing. At this stage, a risk assessment is undertaken to establish all possible types of contaminants present at the site, which receptors would be impacted (such as ecosystems, human health, and water supply), and the pathways through which the contaminants would come into contact with the receptors. This helps to evaluate the risk level and establish the remediation targets.

3. The remediation process. This includes identifying the most appropriate technologies and techniques for remediating the land, utilising guidance from the UK Sustainable Remediation Forum on sustainable management practices. Engaging a contaminated land remediation company such as https://soilfix.co.uk takes place at this point. Such companies can help with the sustainable element of the project, whether this is a clean-up after an environmental disaster or the remediation of brownfield sites prior to development.

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4. Verification and validation. This is performed once the remediation works have taken place. The aim is to ensure effectiveness and to establish whether any follow-up monitoring or further remediation is required.