Groundwater Remediation Pump and Treat Method

The groundwater remediation pump and treat method can be used for cleaning up contaminated groundwater from dissolved chemicals, including industrial solvents, metals, and fuel oil. Sometimes, it makes more sense to pump the water (pump and treat) out of the ground to treat it instead of injecting the oxidant into the subsurface (In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO)). The treated water can then be re-injected back into the subsurface or simply discharged at the surface depending on the local conditions.

How Does Groundwater Pump and Treat Work?

Groundwater pump and treat methods generally involve installing extraction well(s). The groundwater is then pumped out of the ground from the extraction well(s) to remove the contaminant(s). The groundwater treatment system may include various cleanup methods depending on the type of contaminant, or if there is a mixture of contaminants.

Below is an illustration of the pump and treat process.

Pump and Treat Remediation Advantages

The groundwater pump and treat method can be a good choice for ozone-based oxidation processes– especially advanced oxidation processes (AOP). Advantages include:

1. The ozone can be efficiently mixed with the water under controlled conditions at the surface.
2. Excess gas can be released without becoming a possible source of blockage subsurface.
3. Pump and treat applications have the advantage of a simpler treatment environment. This is because it’s limited to the water coming from the well.
4. With advanced oxidation (AOP), contaminated water can be in intimate contact with hydroxyl radicals allowing for efficient reaction. In the subsurface, the oxidants have to travel to the contaminant. In the case of short-lived oxidants such as hydroxyl radicals, it’s easier for the contaminated water to travel versus the hydroxyl radical.
5. UV based processes can be used alone or in conjunction with ozone, peroxide, or ozone and peroxide and employed at the surface where they are not available subsurface.

There are other chemical oxidation approaches including:

• Permanganate
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Fenton’s Reagent (Fe based catalysis of hydrogen peroxide; a combination of H2O2 and Fe2+), and
• Persulfate

Since 2004, Spartan has supplied industrial ozone generators, ozone water treatment systems and advanced oxidation processes. We are trusted by a wide range of industrial and governmental clients for their industrial treatment needs. We work by consulting on your specific treatment objective using our application expertise and lab and pilot services to recommend the best and most appropriate solution. Contact if you have questions about groundwater pump and treat methods or if you’d like a rapid quote.