Case Study - Remediation of Heavily Contaminated Soils by Bio-remediation

 

Client: Borden Chemicals

Location: North Baddesley

The Issue

Our client wished to dispose of a redundant chemical production site for onward development to housing. The 17 acres site was surrounded by existing housing in a desirable residential neighbourhood. The ground was contaminated with Phenolic compounds, asbestos and a PH imbalance resulting from concrete leaching.

The Objective

To provide a turn-key solution from integrated design through implementation to sign off, discharging planning conditions and enabling the site to be sold with all environmental liabilities transferred to the developer.

The Solution

• Design the scheme, addressing planning conditions and obtaining agreement and consents from the LA and Environment Agency.
• Treatment of heavily contaminated soils by ex-situ bio-remediation reducing contamination levels to enable soils to be retained and re-used on site.
• Following laboratory trials, undertaking cement and Bentonite soil mixing to reduce the acidity levels of the ground water discharging to an adjacent stream.
• Geotechnical design to enable the adoption of traditional strip footings, adding value to the forward development, by avoiding more complex foundation solutions.
• Sign-off by an independent validation consultant, regulators and statutory bodies to facilitate the land sale and liability transfer from Borden Chemicals to Lindon Homes.