The basis of Sparging is to inject air, pure oxygen, nitrogen or ozone below the water table, under pressure, via vertical wells or horizontal lines. The injection of air can be used to:

• Volatilise contaminants within the groundwater and saturated zone and if this is the primary aim, then it is usual to couple Air Sparging with SVE so that the contaminants are drawn from the zone requiring treatment. It is possible to utilise nitrogen for sparging in this scenario to reduce the risks associated with an air / hydrocarbon vapour mix.
• Mobilise groundwater and encourage mass transfer within the saturated zone. Air Sparging can be highly effective at ‘stirring up’ the unsaturated zone so that contaminants become available for other treatment techniques coupled to the air sparging.
• Oxygenation of the saturated zone (Bio-Sparging). One of the most common limiting factors for natural attenuation is a lack of oxygen in the saturated zone. The introduction of oxygen by sparging either air or pure oxygen is a simple way of greatly reducing the time required for organic contaminates to biodegrade within the aquifer. It is possible to couple this technique with a pump & treat technique to improve sub surface mass transfer and provide a mechanism for the introduction of nutrients and possibly a bacterial inoculum.

Ecologia can successfully undertake  Air Sparging and it is within the terms of our Environmental Permit.