Monitoring the Soil System as a Reactor Chamber

Abstract

Over the last few years the Dutch Policy for soil remediation has changed significantly towards a more functional approach, as is stated by the BEVER committee (UPR BEVER, 1999). The strict enforcement of the multifunctionality principle leads to stagnation in the development of new city infrastructure and land use change. The present approach focuses on a cost effective remediation that will guarantee the desired use of the soil system in the near future. For mobile contaminants the basic principle to avoid inadmissible migration has to be fulfilled However, the new standard goal permits the use of the soil system outside the polluted volume as a reactor chamber as long as the remediation objective (a stable end situation) will be reached within a period of 3o years. In general this approach results in residual soil and groundwater contamination for which a soil quality management strategy is necessary. Boundary conditions require the avoidance of a threat of the surroundings and avoiding the restriction of activities above and below groundsurface.