Remediation techniques

In situ soil flushing is an innovative treatment technology that floods contaminated soils with a solution that moves the contaminants to an area where they are removed. 'In situ' meaning 'in place' refers to treating the contaminated soil without digging up or removing it. The specific contaminants in the soil at any particular site determine the type of flushing solution needed in the treatment process.

In situ soil flushing works best at sites with soil that has spaces that permit the wash solution to move through it. If the soil has a high percentage of silt or clay, for example, the flushing solution cannot easily move through the soil, so it cannot easily make contact with the contaminants. This limits the overall effectiveness of the soil flushing process. In addition, some flushing fluids contain additives which may themselves create new groundwater contamination if they are not completely removed.