Soil and water contamination tests

Soil and water contamination testing is a service for professional investors that helps make accurate investment decisions and minimize the costs associated with implementing investments in a given land. Most often, contamination testing is carried out to the extent necessary for the implementation of construction investments, when examining the impact of facilities and installations on the environment, when using anthropogenic soil for the construction of embankments and when performing land reclamation. The tests show whether we are dealing with historical contamination. Geotest specializes in implementing such projects throughout Europe.

Scope of soil and water contamination tests

When providing soil and water contamination testing services, we usually focus on:

Determining the aggressiveness of water or soil towards concrete
Determining the amount of petroleum substances and heavy metals (standard testing includes 12 heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, zinc, cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, mercury, barium, cobalt, molybdenum, tin).

It is also possible to test the concentration of other substances depending on the clients's needs. This scope of research allows for a precise assessment of the business risk for the investor and is a key stage when making a decision to purchase a given property.

Benefits of testing soil and water contamination

Professional contamination testing shows how local water and soil conditions will affect a given investment, allowing you to adapt the project to the surroundings and take appropriate preventive measures to minimize investment outlays.

A soil and water contamination test performed before purchasing a plot will allow you to check the environmental cleanliness of the area and avoid costly methods of land disposal when starting a construction investment.

This is a standard element of every investment project required by most investors.

We specialize in advanced soil and water testing

We have been testing soil and water contamination since 1990. We have gathered unique knowledge and experience, and above all, we have created a well-coordinated team of professionals. Our work is carried out under the supervision of Krzysztof Traczyński and Michał Grela, experts with over 30 years of experience in the geotechnical industry. We have performed soil tests for the largest construction companies and hundreds of individual clients.

Stages of soil and water contamination tests

Introduction

The Regulation of the Minister of the Environment on the method of assessing earth surface contamination of September 5, 2016 specifies the methods of qualifying areas. Areas intended for residential, service, commercial and sports facilities fall into soil group I. Group 4 includes industrial and communication areas, including halls and warehouses.

According to the regulation, contaminated areas are identified in five stages.

Stage 1

Determining the activities that may cause contamination in a given area.

Stage 2

Establishing a list of risk-causing substances that are expected to occur in soil in a given area.

Stage 3

Collecting and analyzing available and current sources of information relevant to assessing the contamination risk.

Stage 4

Collecting information necessary to perform preliminary tests and carrying them out.

At this stage, a sampling layout is determined.

For lands with soil groups I and IV:

with an area of up to 0.05 ha, at least 1 section is established for the surveyed area
with an area exceeding 0.05 ha to 1 ha, at least 3 sections with an area not exceeding 0.1 ha are established for the study area
with an area of more than 1 ha and up to 10 ha, at least 10 sections with an area of no more than 0.5 ha are established for the entire surveyed area

At least 15 individual sampling points are designated for each section in order to obtain, by mixing these samples, 1 aggregate sample for the section being tested. Mixed samples are taken from depths 0 – 0.25 m below ground level.

Apart from surface (mixed) samples, single samples are taken from depths 0.25 to 1.00 meters.

In case of made grounds or local sources of contamination in the subsoil, additional samples are taken at a depth of more than 1.0 meter in intervals of no more than 2.0 meters.

This means that if, for example, made grounds reach a depth of 4.5 meters below ground
level, then in addition to the surface sample and sample from depths 0.80-1.00, additional samples are taken from depths 2.80-3.00 and 4.80-5.00 meters below ground level.

In the documentation of preliminary tests (stage four), the obtained analysis results are compared with the permissible levels of the tested substances specified in the regulation in question.

The documentation of preliminary tests should also include:

date of sampling
place of sampling (coordinates determined using the GPS satellite navigation system)
sampling depth
land use at the place of sampling
conclusions and recommendations

Stage 5

Conducting detailed tests.

If preliminary tests do not reveal any contamination, there is no need to perform detailed tests. In such a case, stage 5 is not carried out and the assessment is considered completed.

When preliminary tests show contamination, a detailed testing plan should be developed and these tests should be carried out.

After their completion, documentation of detailed tests is prepared, which, in addition to information similar to that contained in the preliminary documentation, should include a map showing the extent of the contamination found in the plan and cross-sections illustrating the boundary of the contaminated land in the plan.

If there is groundwater, the direction of its flow should be indicated.

Expertise

nearly 10000 completed projects

Experience

30+ years in the industry

Team

30+ consultants

Quality

4000+ environmental samples tested per year

Examples

Example of preliminary tests no. 1.

Plot with an area of 0.45 ha. No embankments thicker than 1.0 meter. In accordance with the principles presented in the regulation, five surface zones with an area of 0.1 ha are designated. Five mixed surface tests and five samples from depths 0.8-1.0 m. A total of 10 samples for laboratory analyses.

A plot with a similar surface area, but the made grounds are located to a depth of 2.5 m below ground level. Five mixed surface samples to be taken in the field, 5 samples from a depth of 0.8-1.0 m and 5 samples from depth 2.8-3.0 m. A total of 15 samples for laboratory analyses.

Example of preliminary tests no. 2.

Plot area: 1.4 ha. No made grounds thicker than 1.0 meter. For the given area, 10 mixed surface zones and 10 samples from a depths 0.8-1.0 m are determined. A total of 20 samples for laboratory analyses.

A plot with a similar surface area, but the made grounds are located to a depth of 2.40 m below ground level.

10 different surface tests
10 tests from a depth of 0.80-1.00 m below ground level
10 tests from a depth of 2.80-3.00 m below ground level

Total 30 tests.

Methods of testing soil and water contamination

We conduct soil and water contamination tests by taking samples in the field and then determining the concentration of selected substances in accredited laboratories. We usually make two determinations from one test hole, the first sample comes from the subsurface layer, and the second from a depth of several meters.

Soil and water contamination tests performed by our company are carried out only in accredited laboratories.

Accreditation of laboratories is an EU method of ensuring the quality of tests. Quality certificates confirm that the laboratory meets the requirements of the international standard PN-EN ISO/IEC17025 2005: "General requirements for the competence of research and calibration laboratories".

Tests report

If soil or water contamination tests are performed together with the preparation of documentation of soil tests or geological engineering documentation, their results are included in the documentation.

If only this service is used, the test will constitute a separate report.

Reduction of project risk

Testing for soil and water contamination mitigates project risks:

Reduces unplanned costs associated with the disposal of contaminated soil
We provide knowledge about how to effectively counteract risks
We offer services of experienced professionals

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Soil and water contamination tests