Environmental remediation is a process that is used to safeguard the environment and protect human health by removing contaminants and pollutants from surface water, groundwater, sediment, soil, and other parts of the environment. Bulk movement, chemical, and biological environmental remediation systems are used, which are typically implemented alongside environmental monitoring or other environmental remediation services.
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Why Are Environmental Remediation Services Important?
These services are critical for numerous reasons, ranging from the direct impact on the land to reduced regulatory risk for the landowner. Here are a few key benefits:
1) Improves the environment of previously developed land
In urban planning, brownfield land is land that is currently unused but was previously developed and may be contaminated or polluted. Through environmental remediation, such a site can be brought back to a state that is healthy for use by the community.
This process allows you to reverse negative impacts on the land, which are often referred to as anthropogenic (resulting from the influence of humans on nature). Environments may become unable to regenerate because of anthropogenic activity. A chief example is the biological, chemical, and physical effects of metal contamination on the soil. While healthy soil contains soil bacteria that promote growth, significant contamination with metal creates toxicity to those bacteria. Their numbers become depleted. When there are fewer microbes, nutrients circulate less effectively, and organic matter decomposes at a slower pace. Since vegetative plant cover requires those nutrients, it either degrades or fails to grow completely.
The lack of healthy plant cover then creates an additional issue: erosion. Both the wind and water can rapidly erode the area, causing further damage and leading to metal contamination in neighboring sites.
2) Drives optimal results
You will get ideal results from robust work that is completed by trained and experienced consultants. The work will be performed expertly by a top-rated environmental remediation services company, whether you are in need of a chemical storage or fuel oils project, groundwater or soil inspection, or comprehensive field assessment. When you entrust the right organization, you can get solutions that are rapid, budget-friendly, and permanent. The specialists you hire will conduct a step-by-step process, including a site investigation, tests, analysis of the outcomes, determination of appropriate remediation, and establishment of those strategies.
3) Improves human health
Health can be negatively impacted through land contamination by a wide variety of hazardous substances — via the soil, the water, and/or the air. By removing or minimizing pollution, remediation services help residents in the area benefit from better health; and the same is true of your current and future workforce. A spectrum of illnesses and injuries can be averted. These health benefits may include reduced morbidity (rate of disease within the population) from birth defects, cancer, nausea, asthma, and developmental disorders.
4) Refines your decision-making
By drawing on broad scientific disciplines, well-equipped professional remediation services will supply the objective information you need to proceed forward toward the best results. Only with the right information and consultation can you understand the circumstances. Through understanding, you will be able to make the best judgment calls and play a more central part in the remediation project.
5) Provides access to integrated expertise
Reversing negative environmental impacts should not be oversimplified. It requires broad skill sets that extend beyond any individual. Hydrogeologists, geologists, chemical and environmental engineers, statisticians, computer scientists, and microbiologists are all potential contributors to an environmental remediation project. Through a diverse team of specialized experts, you can accurately implement environmental monitoring. Effective monitoring stems from garnering an accurate sense of the biological, physical, and chemical processes occurring on the land, as well as from a sound description of the exact issues and how widespread they are.
6) Allows for better productivity of the land
Cleaning up a site can improve the productivity of its current activities and permit more valuable forms of production. The end result of remediation can be redevelopment that allows the property to be used for great value and profit generation. You can calculate the net economic benefit of remediation and reuse by taking the difference in value before and after the project and subtracting the expenses for remediation and redevelopment. Examples of higher-value redevelopment projects are the creation of residential housing complexes, high-rise hotels, and coastal parks on sites of former parking lots or junkyards.
7) Enables more meaningful relationships with regulators
A seasoned and top-rated environmental remediation company has already established rapport with regulatory officials. They grasp the regulatory fine print at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as granular governmental expectations in terms of processes and results. Given their relationships and knowledge, these organizations are ideally prepared to present your case to the relevant agencies.
8) Boosts ecosystems
When land is remediated and reused, there are benefits to the ecology, and, in turn, human welfare is improved. These ecological benefits allow for better hydrological regulation through the reduction of runoff. They also lead to beautification and allow for recreational activities. Additionally, refreshed ecosystems can provide for the production of freshwater, food, and other market goods.
9) Minimizes materials damage
You can potentially reduce damage to your infrastructure, buildings, and equipment through remediation. By removing pollutants that are in the groundwater or soil, you keep them from causing damage to your systems and structures. While research is thin on the impact of land contamination on materials, there is substantial evidence of the negative influence of air pollution on the same; and the influence of land contamination could be important, per the EPA.
10) Improves aesthetics
Through remediation, you can make your site look better. You can also reduce the negative impact on drinking water and foul smells caused by pollutants.
Delivers continuing support
After you have finished the project, environmental remediation services will help you correctly and thoroughly conduct regulatory reporting, as well as ensure compliance. Generally, you can continue to utilize these companies for advice on adjustments, along with regular testing and evaluation.
Your Environmental Remediation Services Partner
Are you in need of the design and implementation of environmental remediation systems? At Alpha-Omega Training and Compliance, we provide clients with high-quality technical services at competitive costs. Contact us today to discover how we can help you.