3 Business Industries That Utilize Environmental Remediation

3 Business Industries That Utilize Environmental Remediation

We humans have gained much from industrialization. Throughout the ages, technological advancements have spurred economic growth and development and have greatly improved our standard of living. Unfortunately, it has also come at the cost of our environment. Environmental pollution and contamination from various industries, such as manufacturing, mining, and the oil and gas industry to name a few, have often caused harm to air, water, and soil. Industrial processes have damaged ecosystems and have created health issues for both humans and animals.

Responsible people working in these industries understand the importance of environmental remediation to reduce the contamination of land, water, and air, protect sensitive ecosystems, and safeguard the health of humans and wildlife. Such industries approach remediation with strategies that are economical, sustainable, and most of all, successful. Solutions may include demolishing, degrading, or outright removal of such contaminants.

1- Manufacturing

Many of our cities and towns are littered with brownfields, former industrial sites long since abandoned that have not been repurposed due to the presence of coal ash, chlorinated solvents, petroleum-related products, and other hazardous substances from the previous manufacturing processes used there. Remediating these properties isn’t just the environmentally right thing or the required regulatory thing to do, it’s also practical. Remediating brownfield sites opens up an opportunity for redevelopment and revitalization of communities.

2- Mining

Mining is a valuable industry, providing raw materials for our roads, bridges, and various construction projects. The minerals and metals extracted in the mining process are used to make a wide variety of products we need and use every day. On the downside, both active and abandoned mines produce acidic water that often contains unsafe heavy metals. This water can leach into soils, contaminate nearby water sources, and interfere with the growth of aquatic organisms and plants. Environmental remediation to remove or treat soil, sediments, ground, and surface water that has been polluted by acidic water is vital for health and the protection of the environment.

3- Oil and Gas

Our economy depends on oil and gas. It goes without saying that oil spills are harmful to the environment, but the processes we use to obtain oil and gas are also problematic. Hydraulic fracturing, the process of injecting a mix of water, sand, and chemicals into layers of underground rock, to extract oil and gas creates an unwanted byproduct of wastewater flush with chemicals and pollutants. Bioremediation injection techniques are often employed in this industry to address the contaminants “in situ,” meaning in place. In this situation, microorganisms are injected into subsoils to effectively degrade harmful pollutants.

Remediation Strategies

Choosing the best remediation solution begins with an assessment of a site to determine the types and levels of contaminants, the extent of the contamination, and doing a thorough risk assessment. Solutions are varied and may include excavation, bioremediation, which involves injecting naturally occurring organisms where the contaminants exist to degrade them, using man-made chemicals that will also degrade the contaminants in place and reduce them to unharmful levels, or even encapsulating the contaminated portion of a site with impermeable materials. It is typical for a site owner to partner with an engineering consultant firm, a respected biotechnology laboratory, and an experienced environmental remediation company to help determine and carry out the best course of action.