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Chemical Technology • January 2013
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on water treatment
patterns and waste disposal intensify
the problem. Contaminants either seep
through the soil to reach the water, are
washed into the ground by rainfall or
surface run-off, or leach from contami-
nated landfills and other buried hazardous
wastes, all of which affect both human
well-being and ecosystem functioning.
Millions are spent every year on control and
remediation measures even though remedia-
tion is difficult and extremely costly. Remedia-
tion of soil and groundwater is usually carried
out by government agencies, or environmental
companies, with the first step being the iden-
tification of the contaminants. The analysis
and classification of the pollutant(s) is critical
in that it enables identification of appropriate
solutions for remediation.
Analyses are performed by internationally
recognized environmental laboratories that
can provide expert interpretative data to con-
sultants who are then able to make recom-
mendations on and implement remediation
measures. Reliable data is vital for making
informed decisions. Once identified, the
contaminant is either physically removed to a
landfill site or subjected to chemical oxidation
methods, which remove the pollutant from
the soil before it is reintroduced back into
the environment. Specialized mechanical
techniques in the form of pump-and–treat
methods are used, or the area is rehabilitat-
ed
in situ
with the use of microorganisms.
Although groundwater is a vital source of
water for many and has given rise to several
short and medium-term socio-economic ben-
efits, the additional pressure on the resource
has put many aquifers at risk due to high
extraction rates. Until 1998, groundwater was
considered a privately-owned asset (under
the traditional riparian system). However,
after the promulgation of the new National
Water Act, groundwater was declared a public
resource with shared entitlements to use,
therefore exposing the resource to further
exploitation. Although provision was made for
the management of groundwater resources
under the Department of Water Affairs, the
motivations behind the regulations and
guidelines have been difficult to account for
and implement on a regional level and subse-
quently are largely overlooked or neglected.
Thus, there are still many challenges
Perhaps the most significant challenge is
education and awareness, and the collabora-
tion between stakeholders on the importance
of sustainable and efficient groundwater use
(and monitoring). Greater awareness and
understanding, as a first step, will allow for the
timeous assessment of the occurrence and
extent of pollution and assist with the proactive
management of groundwater pollution in South
Africa. Talbot Laboratories routinely analyses
References available from the editor at
groundwater samples and can provide interpre-
tative data to assist in remediation measures.
Talbot Laboratories, a division of Talbot &
Talbot (Pty) Ltd, achieved ISO 25 accredita-
tion through SANAS in 2001, upgraded to ISO
17025 in 2005 and, to date has successfully
maintained this status through its consistently
high standard of operation and quality. It also
analyses industrial effluent, landfill leachates,
marine water, marine sediments and solid
waste for classification for disposal to landfill
sites. Additional services offered by the labora-
tory include on-site sampling, consultation and
interpretation of results.
For your analytical requirements
contact Talbot Laboratories
on +27 33 3461 444;
email:
or go to:
