Above: Initially higher costs for the investigation of natural attenuation will result in efficient, cost-effective remediation strategies (black line).

Below: Insight gained through contaminant degradation monitoring in various rehabilitation phases.

Monitoring Concepts: Natural Attenuation and Technical Measures

The sound investigation of biological processes in contaminated sites is groundbreaking for the remediation planning. Anyone who takes account of natural attenuation in contaminated sites can massively reduce the costs of rehabilitation (Mäurer et al., 2008, KORA 2008a-d, BLU 2015). Environmental authorities are therefore proposing the extensive exploration of natural processes in contaminant plumes (LABO 2015).


Appropriate Proof of Contaminant Degradation in Certain Stages of Remediation


Detection and characterization of pollutant degradation are often insufficient. Isotope studies can be used to determine the sustainable biological elimination of pollutants in situ. In addition, certain methods allow the determination of degradation rates and a prediction of plume behavior. As soon as pollutant degradation is established as an integral part of a remediation concept, several independent test procedures are generally used (multiple-line-of-evidence approach). Isodetect offers a total of ten monitoring methods.