The project, supported by the European Union 7th Framework Program and coordinated by TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Cleaner Production Institute, aims to develop a new, passive in-situ system for the injection of treatment chemicals into the environment to be used in the rehabilitation of contaminated groundwater and soil. The total budget of the project is 1.898.898 € and the part supported by the European Union is 1.478.466.10 €. TÜBİTAK MAM The project, coordinated by the Institute of Environment and Cleaner Production, has a total of 12 partners from 8 countries. The Institute of Environment and Cleaner Production is one of the two partners that undertake the main R&D activities in the project as well as the coordinator responsibility.

Yer yüzündeki tatlı su kütlesinin büyük çoğunluğunun (%68.6) buzullar halinde olduğu göz önüne alındığında, yer altı suları dünyada erişilebilen en büyük tatlı su kütlesidir (%30.1).  Önemli bir su kaynağı olan yer altı suları, kirlenme ve fiziksel yıkılma riski ile karşı karşıyadır. Kirlenmiş toprak, yer altı suyu için önemli bir kirletici etkendir. Toprakta bulunan veya zamanla yer altı suyuna ulaşmış olan kirleticiler, yer altı suyu kalitesi için ortamdan uzaklaştırılmalıdır. Bu alanda uygulanan arıtma metotları, toprak ve yer altı suyu yapısına göre değişen yüksek maliyetli ve uzun süreli prosesler olabilmektedir.  HEISTT projesinde, doğru kimyasalların kullanılması ile, petrol ürünleri, klorlu solventler ve pestisitler PCB ve PAH lar da dahil olmak üzere geniş bir kirletici kimyasallar grubu üzerinde etkili olacaktır.  Bu kirleticileri temizleyen kimyasallar günümüzde iyice çalışılmış ve yoğun bir şekilde kullanılmaktadırlar. Bununla birlikte bu kimyasalları kirlenmiş alanlar verilmesi için kullanılan yöntemler verimli değildir. Bu proje, yer altı suyu ve toprakta kirliliğe neden olan kirletici maddelerin arıtımında kullanılan kimyasalların ortama tanıştırılması için yeni, pasif bir sistem geliştirmeyi ve enjeksiyon kuyularının hızlı ve ekonomik olarak açılmasını amaçlamaktadır.

R&D activities within the scope of the project include ultrasonic tip design, design and testing of the system, selection and testing of the geotextile material to be used, modeling of the distribution of chemicals to be injected, calibration of the model with field studies. The main work packages of the project include rapid drilling of well systems for the removal of groundwater contamination, design and testing of the necessary equipment for chemical dosing. Although TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Cleaner Production Institute is involved in all work packages, its main responsibilities are distributed across the work packages of model development for the contaminated area and modeling of the area, integration and testing of the ultrasonic tip into the piles, field studies and project management.

The main scope of the project is as follows:
In order to collect data for the model to be used in determining the locations of the wells to be drilled, it is first necessary to conduct surveys of the contaminated field. With the model developed, it is determined where and how many wells should be drilled in which intervals in the field. The model also estimates how much chemicals will be released from these wells. The wells whose locations are determined are drilled by driving the well drilling piles equipped with the developed ultrasonic tip into the soil. Since the soil is liquefied by the ultrasonic tip during this process, the progress of the drilling piles in the soil is much faster than normal. During this process, the geotextile that will surround the perimeter of the well is placed in the well together with the piles. When the desired depth is reached, the piles and ultrasonic tip are removed and the geotextile is left in the well. Thus, the geotextile makes the well more rigid. High weight pushers will be used to advance the piles in the soil.

With this project, it is aimed to accumulate knowledge in underground and soil pollution treatment technologies. By bringing these technologies, which have not yet been widely applied, to our country, it will be possible to train experts in their fields. In addition, as a result of this study, an efficient process and method will be created for companies working in the field of groundwater treatment and rehabilitation.