Why is it important to clean up brownfield sites?
Exposure to brownfields can pose health risks. Drinking water, the ground or building materials can become contaminated. Brownfields do not clean themselves. The land retains the contaminants for centuries and poses a health risk to residents if not cleaned up. A brownfield’s status puts limits on the redevelopment of the land. You’ll occasionally see contaminated land surrounded by a new charming neighbourhood. New residents dislike living near a vacant contaminated property but the land can’t be redeveloped for a better use until the property is cleaned up. Brownfields affect local property values and taxes in a negative way. Brownfields can deter urban growth patterns in that a city or community may choose to steer growth away from land that is contaminated.
