Groundwater remediation and the cost effectiveness of phytoremediation.
In 1999, phytoremediation was applied at the site of a Belgian car factory to contain two BTEX plumes. This case study evaluates the cost effectiveness of phytoremediation compared to other remediation options, applying a tailored approach for economic evaluation. Generally, when phytoremediation is addressed as being cost effective, the cost effectiveness is only determined on an average basis. This study however, demonstrates that an incremental analysis may provide a more nuanced conclusion. When the cost effectiveness is calculated on an average basis, in this particular case, the no containment strategy (natural attenuation) has the lowest cost per unit mass removed and hence, should be preferred. However, when the cost effectiveness is determined incrementally, no containment should only be preferred if the value of removing an extra gram of contaminant mass is lower than 320 euros. Otherwise, a permeable reactive barrier should be adopted. A similar analysis is provided for the effect determined on the basis of remediation time. Phytoremediation is preferred compared to 'no containment' if reaching the objective one year earlier is worth 7 000 euros.
Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium. tine.compernolle@uhasselt.be
T
T
Compernolle
S
S
Van Passel
N
N
Weyens
J
J
Vangronsveld
L
L
Lebbe
T
T
Thewys
D001530:Belgium; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008954:Models, Biological; D032107:Populus; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical