Ground Contamination Survey

The redevelopment of a brownfield or former industrial site requires a land quality assessment to be undertaken in accordance with LCRM and BS 10175 guidelines. The initial Preliminary Risk Assessment (PRA) involves a desk study of the site's historical and recent land use to identify potential sources of contamination, which is used to develop a preliminary conceptual site model for the planned development.

This examines potential pollutant linkages based on the development end use, related to the geological, hydrogeological and drainage characteristics of the site. This forms the basis of the Phase 2 generic quantitative risk assessment (GQRA), where soil and groundwater samples are recovered for laboratory testing of contaminant parameters, and borehole standpipes are also installed for ground gas monitoring.

The results of the GQRA are used to refine the CSM, where the contamination test results and gas monitoring data are screened against generic assessment criteria for human health and controlled waters, which determines the requirement for any necessary remedial action.