Sustainability: good for soil and water treatment too
The ‘European platform for demonstration of efficient soil and groundwater remediation’ (Eurodemo) project was initiated to overcome the existing barriers to and enhance market penetration of sustainable technologies and practices related to the treatment of soil and groundwater to remove harmful pollutants. Specifically, the researchers sought to create a platform encompassing all relevant current research information, guidance for performance evaluation and for reporting of field project results as well as tools enabling analysis of alternative technologies and projects with respect to cost and environmental impact. First, the researchers surveyed recent and on-going innovative projects. They divided technologies for removing pollutants (remediation) into four categories, namely permeable reactive barriers, thermal remediation, chemical oxidation and enhanced bioremediation. In response to the lack of monitoring and evaluation and thus lack of useful feedback from demonstration projects, the researchers developed guidelines for evaluating performance and for reporting results. They also developed the remediation technologies promotion programme (RTPP) to promote the use of sustainable technologies in the soil and groundwater remediation field. Specifically, the programme incorporated risk-based analyses, fiscal incentives and environmental performance incentives to ensure the commitment of public authorities to sustainable practices. In conclusion, the Eurodemo project provided assimilation of information relating to EU-funded programmes on sustainability in the soil and groundwater remediation sector, recommendations for standardisation in performance evaluation, and reporting procedures and suggestions for getting public authorities on board. All of these should help increase confidence in the benefits of sustainability on the part of end users and increase participation by funding organisations and potential technology demonstrators.
