TreeWell® Technology
TreeWell technology enables access to deep groundwater and bedrock aquifers, providing a cost-effective alternative to conventional pump-and-treat systems. Bioremediation processes within the TreeWell unit mitigate potential phytotoxic effects from subsurface contaminants.
What are the Benefits of Our Patented TreeWell® Remediation Systems?
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On average, the lifetime cost of our remediation system is substantially lower than conventional remedies such as groundwater pump-and-treat systems.
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Our systems have been successfully used to provide contaminant degradation in soil and groundwater under a variety of lithologic conditions. Additionally, our systems can be used to provide hydraulic control of groundwater, thereby mitigating plume migration.
Treatable contaminants include soluble compounds in soil and groundwater, including most VOCs, agricultural inorganics, solubilized metals, PFOA/PFAS, and semi-volatile organics.
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While significant remediation is taking place in the soil and groundwater in the subsurface, the foliage of beautiful willows, hackberries, live oaks, palms, poplars, or spruce trees is growing above the surface.
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As the trees mature, their groundwater uptake rates increase, providing improved hydraulic control and contaminant mass removal. Also, the root system typically hosts robust microbial populations that are capable of degrading many contaminants.
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Founded in 1993, Applied Natural Sciences (ANS) delivers its proprietary TreeWell® system worldwide, with more than 3,500 units installed across North America and Europe. ANS’ nature-based technology has demonstrated proven effectiveness in groundwater remediation and hydraulic control at over 100 sites. These projects demonstrate applicability across diverse contaminant classes and a wide range of facility types, including legacy wood-treating operations, chemical manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, and explosives manufacturing facilities.
What areTreeWell® Systems?
TreeWell® Systems are a plant-based remediation alternative that can provide contaminant mass reduction and hydraulic control, access deep groundwater and bedrock aquifers beyond the reach of traditional phytoremediation, and promote in-situ microbial degradation of subsurface contaminants — all while presenting an aesthetically pleasing, low-profile alternative to conventional treatment systems.
What is aTreeWell® System?
As experts in phytoremediation, we design and implement plant-based remediation systems to address complex soil and groundwater contamination. Patented TreeWell® Systems offer a cost-effective, nature-based, sustainable remediation alternative that can provide hydraulic control and contaminant mass reduction. Our technology allows access to deep groundwater and bedrock aquifers, and our methods promote in-situ microbial degradation of subsurface contaminants.
Our system is the only one of its kind and has a unique record of documented success at sites throughout North America and Europe.
Using our PHYTO_INTEGRATED™ approach, TreeWell Systems can be integrated with other remedial technologies such as thermal-based remedies, enhanced bioremediation, in-situ chemical reduction (ISCR, including ZVI, EZVI, Daramend®), ion exchange resins, or other treatment/absorption media such as granular activated carbon to capitalize on various synergies between the technologies and provide more cost-effective and efficient site-specific solutions.
How do TreeWell® units work?
A TreeWell System is installed by excavating a large-diameter borehole, placing a Root_Sleeve™ liner to a depth targeting the contaminated groundwater zone, and backfilling with amended soil. This amended soil column and its native microbial populations reduce phytotoxic effects on the tree. The Root_Sleeve liner prevents the consumption of shallow percolating precipitation and allows precise targeting of specific water-bearing strata.
Once established, the tree and its root-zone microbial community work together to remediate the site:
The tree acts as a natural pump, drawing groundwater upward through the amended soil column (hydraulic uptake)
Tree root exudates — sugars and organic compounds released into the soil — stimulate and sustain the native microbial community, encouraging the biodegradation of contaminants in the root zone
This soil column functions as a bioreactor, where the resulting microbial activity degrades contaminants largely before they reach the tree's roots
Any residual contaminants are degraded within the plant, sequestered in plant tissue, or transpired into the atmosphere
Because the tree continuously consumes groundwater, it can also alter local flow direction — helping control or redirect a migrating contaminant plume
What variations of TreeWell® technology are available?
Straw TreeWell® Technology
The Straw TreeWell® System is capable of addressing impacted groundwater at depths exceeding 100 feet below ground surface (bgs), expanding the applicability of phytoremediation to previously inaccessible environmental challenges. Head pressure in the target stratum needs to be sufficient to move groundwater upward to the upper screen inside the Straw TreeWell unit.
The large TreeWell borehole is sealed at the bottom, and a smaller well casing (Straw) extends into the target zone, reaching depths limited only by the hydraulic head of the water in the target zone.
Groundwater is transported upward through the Straw well casing into the sealed unit through a secondary screen through natural hydraulic head pressure, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping.
Within the closed unit, contaminated groundwater (organic contaminants) is subject to the same in-situ bioreactor treatment as in traditional TreeWell units.
TreeWell® Technology Bio-Barrier
A barrier, similar to a typical reactive barrier, is installed to intercept the contaminant plume in the target horizon of the aquifer. TreeWell units are installed above the barrier to induce greater groundwater flow into the barrier and vertically upwards within the barrier to enhance contaminants contact with reactive media installed within the barrier. The backfill materials within the TreeWell units may also include reactive media to further reduce contaminant concentrations.
TreeWell® System Installation
How areTreeWell® Units Installed?
Learn more
Are you interested in learning a bit more about phytoremediation and how it can provide a cost-effective, sustainable, nature-based remedial alternative for your sites? Check out this informative webinar to learn how an engineered phytoremediation system can be designed to address complex and challenging sites.