Course overview
This course deals with the theoretical principles and practical engineering methodologies associated with the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. Topics to be considered are as follows: Industrial and agricultural contamination of soil and groundwater. Potential hazards to human health and the environment. Epidemiology. Planning and legislative issues in land-use change and redevelopment. International approaches. Site investigation: preliminary, exploratory, detailed and monitoring. Hydrogeology of site: trial pits, drilling, coring, sampling and pumping tests. Soil gas and vapour tests. Risk assessment: source-pathway-receptor concept; estimation, evaluation and control of risk. Modelling of pollutant transport above and below ground: advection, dispersion, absorption and transformation. Remediation options: removal, containment, hydraulic, thermal, physical, chemical, biological, and stabilisation. On-site and off-site options. Selection of options: feasibility, effectiveness, cost. Formal ranking procedures. Design and implementation: specification, technical design, project planning, supervision, documentation and reporting. Health and safety and environmental protection issues. Post project monitoring plan.
Course learning outcomes
- Explain the main scientific and engineering principles of soil and groundwater remediation
- Explain the environmental health issues in relation to redevelopment of contaminated sites;
- Model groundwater flows using standard equations and techniques
- Complete an assessment of a contaminated site
- Propose feasible remedies for contaminated sites