Polluted sites: soil and groundwater contamination

Of all environmental issues, soil and groundwater pollution is unique in several ways. It is distinguished by :

• the difficulty of identifying sources and consequently assessing impacts and risks;

• the persistent or even irreversible nature of pollution and the impact this can have on a site's heritage value;

• the recent nature of the issue and the lack of scientific or regulatory maturity on the subject.

The purpose of this introductory article is to provide a brief overview of the issues surrounding subsoil pollution. These issues are developed in a more exhaustive and scientific manner in the series of articles that follow. The focus is on pollution of industrial origin, with the aim of providing site and environmental managers with the understanding they need to communicate with the many players involved in managing these problems: the authorities, lawyers, financiers, design offices and clean-up contractors.