How long does land remediation take?

When investing in a land remediation project, you are likely to have two main questions: how much will it cost, and how long will it take? After all, time and money are the most valuable resources in business proceedings.

Although we can’t account for every business’s price, we can give you a good idea as to how long it will take specific projects to be carried out.

Something to keep in mind is that in situ – on-site – solutions tend to be quicker, as you don’t need to transfer the polluted material elsewhere for treatment. We will also include some variables to take note of that may influence the time the project takes.

Bioremediation

This method uses biological methods to purify the soil and goes through rigorous testing and trials to ensure the soil is safe for use. Different chemical or biological purifiers will be used depending on the pollutants involved, each with different timeframes to consider.

The main variables with this method are temperature variations, which are brought about by seasons, and the rate at which bacteria degrade, which also depends on a trial beforehand to measure the effectiveness.

Treatment options in general are harder to pre-emptively gauge a timeframe for when compared to their precise technological counterparts; however, accurate estimates can still be made. Consult a soil remediation expert such as Soilfix for more information.

Engineered options

Using machinery such as diggers or articulated lorries makes time estimates far simpler. You can easily calculate the possible loads you will be able to move per hour, such as a 20-tonne machine being able to handle around 100-120 tonnes an hour. Finding the right vehicle for the job is an important consideration that should not be overlooked.

Variables here are also more dependent on capacity than the material; for example, more vehicles will get the work done quicker, but the site may not be as accessible or only able to accommodate one vehicle at a time. Excavations can also depend on whether the material has already been stockpiled, which can drastically increase the project time if left unaccounted for.