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ju Edward G Gauff C r 5 13 887 6061 1/6/95 (D 2 19 PM r+, 3/12 INTRODUCTION effective at rernediation than traditional Bioremediat-ion methodologies have pump and treat systems by limiting additional It 3 hang of coutarrunants into become increasingly important as a the aquifer means of cleaning up euviroamental contaminants. These methods take advantage of natural biological piocessrs The benefits of atian drasron are I to reduce or eliminate risks to health and " EnvIn- itn r®edal an the environment d toxic or ' Envtroamcatal OQlap3h17itity l�`-� by •Efficient Low-tech aiterr-Mvc hazardous substances •Low mainEcrimice ' Most bio riemediauon methods use *Low Capii2l cost microorganisms to metabolize or Selection of TreeMediaation for- a ' otherwise chemically transform hazardous or toxic substances Another Contaminated Aquifer method enlists the aid of plant species to In 1990, we were confronted with the asmi ulate contaminants or to create task of cleaning up a nitrogen environments conducive to the contaminated aquifer in New Jersey that degradatiou of coutanuuants through could not be pumped efficiently Soil natural biochemical processes (Erickson, couditions were such. that the aquifer L.E., ct_al.) Thcsc methods arc often could be considered an aquiclude - referred to as phytore mediation ground water that is field very tightly by agroremediatsou, or simply, vegetative the aquifer medium Still, however rernediation rightly the groundwater was being held, it was also moving off-srte and had to be Plant species can be selected to extract contained Vanous treatment alternatives and assimilate or extract and chemically were considered, including multiple decompose target contaminants. Many pumping wells and a collection trench- inorganic chemicals considered l Hese proposals were unsatisfactory due environmental contaminants are, in fact, to the uncertainty of their effectiveness vital plant nutrients that can be absorbed to tlus situation, as well as their cost_ through the root system for use in Interception and conventional treatment growth and development. IIeavy metals would have regEurcd siguilicant long can be taken up and bioaccumulated in term expenditures. TreeMedrarzon was plant tissues- Organic chemicals, notably ultimately chosen as a cost effective pesticides, can be absorbed and method of treatment for this srte. metabolized by plants, including tries. Prior to the development of TreeMediation`rm takes vegetative TreeMedi=ian as a remedial technology, remediation a step further by using trees our experience had been with the use of as an alternative to groundwater "pump crops, such as alfalfa, corn and other and treat" technology. The vegetation, to affect remediation of TreeMedratton process takes advantage surfcial soil coudttions. Most crops of the extensive root systems of trees and effectively root in the top three to four other vegetation to extract water from feet of the soil Many plants are capable aquifer systems shallower than thirty feet of rooting substantialty deeper bat sail deep conditions, such as impermeable layers, often get in their way The uptake of water by trees can substantially influence the local At this site, the soil conditions were very hydraulics of a shallow aquifer, thus much a potential impediment for deep controlling the migration of a root penetration In addition the aquifer contaminant plume This "pumping" at this site is located at about 16 feet effect flushes water upward through the below the surface - a push for eten a soil column and can thus be rnu,-h more deep rooted crop like alfalfa_ Remediation Journal Anccie &G Qatliff RLD Summa 1994-Draft Copy Page 1