Above Ground Treatment System

 

Groundwater from wells is pumped into an oil/water separator. When oil, fuel, or other hydrocarbons are mixed with groundwater, the oil-water separator helps to physically separate them. An oil/water separator relies on the difference in density between oil (or fuel) and water, allowing the oil to float to the surface where it can be skimmed off, and then dirty water is sent for further treatment. The oil (or in this instance fuel) is captured and collected into an oil storage tank. The water is then pumped onwards for clean-up using activated carbon filtration, which removes organic contaminants from water. The activated carbon granules adsorb (trap) harmful chemicals, such as fuel, by binding them to the surface of the carbon particles. Cleaned water (regularly tested) is then discharged to the foul sewer.

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Vapour (or air and fumes from the leaked fuel trapped below ground) is vacuumed from the wells and gets pushed through activated carbon filtration to scrub out contamination, just as with the groundwater. Cleaned air (regularly tested) is vented out.

 

Total Fluids Pump – An air compressor powered pump in the groundwater extraction well that draws both water and fuel out of the well for treatment.

 

Vacuum Pump – Draws out air, and with it fuel vapours, from the wells for treatment.

 

Types of Extraction Wells – Boreholes have been drilled and standpipes with open slots installed in the boreholes to create extraction wells. We have installed these wells both for dedicated Soil Vapour Extraction (SVE) - these are generally placed within dry ground above the water table, and also for use for combination of groundwater extraction to treat groundwater and to lower the watertable, with SVE being applied to the overlying ground.

 

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