Modular groundwater remediation for a complex case of damage in Hesse
The remediation of contaminated soils and aquifers poses major technical and regulatory challenges for industrial companies and authorities alike. Particularly when pollutants have already entered the underground and further spread via the groundwater flow must be prevented, well thought-out, reliable and at the same time flexible solutions are required. This is exactly where a current project comes in, which is being planned and implemented by M&P Umwelttechnik GmbH – a member of the SIERA Alliance – on an industrial site in Hesse. Under the motto “Engineering For A Better Tomorrow”, this project shows how modern environmental technology and precise planning go hand in hand.
Initial situation: Pollutants in soil and groundwater
On an industrial site in Hesse, pollutants were found in the soil and groundwater. One of the central objectives of the remediation measure is to prevent these pollutants from being transported away further with the natural groundwater flow. An uncontrolled spread would not only have ecological consequences, but could also endanger adjacent uses and protected assets.
Against this background, M&P Umwelttechnik GmbH – a member of the SIERA Alliance – was commissioned with the planning and construction of a new plant for groundwater remediation. Even in the early phase of the project, the focus was on making the system as compact as possible, without compromising on efficiency, controllability or operational safety.
Selection of the appropriate remediation procedure
As part of a comprehensive variant study, different remediation methods for the present case of damage were examined. The aim of this study was to identify the technically and economically most suitable process.
As a result of this assessment, an in-situ microbiological procedure was identified. This process enables the reduction of pollutant concentrations directly underground. As a result, in many cases groundwater remediation of this kind, large above-ground plant technology can be dispensed with.
A major advantage of this approach is that:
Compact and modular system design
On the basis of the selected process, M&P Umwelttechnik GmbH is planning a new, compact groundwater remediation plant. A central planning element is the modular design of the system.
The modular system offers decisive advantages for later operation:
- High flexibility: If the volume flow is reduced, individual system components can be taken out of operation.
- Unchanged process steps: Despite adjustments in operation, the basic process steps of the renovation remain unchanged.
- Optimized controllability: The renovation can be specifically adapted to the progress underground.
This modular design makes a significant contribution to ensuring the efficiency of the measure over the entire duration of the project.
Choice of location and infrastructural boundary conditions
Another important aspect of the planning concerns the location of the system. In order to ensure easy accessibility for operation and maintenance, the plant is to be built outside the actual company premises.
However, this decision entails additional technical requirements. Among other things:
- cross one of the main roads of the company,
- the cable routing must be designed accordingly safely and permanently.
In addition, weather conditions must also be taken into account. Both frost periods in winter and high temperatures with strong sunlight in summer are incorporated into the design of the system. The aim is to ensure stable and safe operation all year round under changing climatic conditions.
Pumping tests as a basis for the design
Extensive pumping tests were carried out in the run-up to the actual planning. These provide important insights for the dimensioning and design of the remediation plant.
The pumping tests provide information on:
- the optimal extraction rates of groundwater,
- the appropriate infiltration rates,
- the area of effect of the measure underground.
The tests were carried out as immission pump tests (IPV). The aim of this methodology is to locate the current location of the source of the damage as precisely as possible. This information is crucial to implement the renovation in a targeted and effective manner.
Monitoring, Analytics, and Continuous Optimization
In order to ensure the efficiency of the plant and to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, a comprehensive monitoring concept is planned.
During operation, the following are regularly tested:
- Groundwater samples,
- Samples according to defined process steps
and analyzed.
The analysis data obtained form the basis for a continuous adjustment of the process parameters. In this way, the operation of the plant can be continuously adapted to the progress of the renovation and further optimized.
Overview: Central project features of groundwater remediation
| Project feature | Description |
| Location | Industrial site in Hesse |
| Procedure | Microbiological in-situ method |
| Plant concept | Compact and modular |
| Special features | Installation outside the company premises, crossing a main road |
| Preliminary investigations | Immission Pumping Tests (IPV) |
| The establishment | Regular sampling and adjustment of process parameters |
Contribution to sustainable environmental technology
With the planning and construction of this groundwater remediation plant, M&P Umwelttechnik GmbH is making an important contribution to the sustainable remediation of contaminated sites. The project exemplifies how technical precision, modular concepts and detailed preliminary investigations can work together to remedy complex environmental damage efficiently and in a controllable manner.
M&P Umwelttechnik – a member of the SIERA Alliance – stands for innovative solutions in environmental technology and consistently pursues the claim “Engineering For A Better Tomorrow”.
