wastewater treatment plant 1

[killswitchengage]

Hello
After demolishing an old wastewater treatment plant our client wants us to perform a geotechnical study ( i should call it a geo environmental study perhaps) on the site. He is thinking that potential contamination from the plant may be there and that for future projects this needs to be investigated to mitigate their effects. I have never done such a job, my basic knowledge is that wastewater treatment plant removes nitrates from the water for it to be potable . So i proposed we conduct a series of chemical analysis specifically nitrates content since in literature; nitrates are known to be deleterious chemicals .

What do you guys think ? ( the client doesn't know what future projects they may built there )

 

[dik]

Take some samples at various depths and make sure you log where they came from carefully. Send the samples out to a lab for analysis (likely spectrographic) and see what contaminants you have. Then decide what has to be done... this can be in conjunction with the lab report... also, there are environmental consultants that specialise in this type of work.

Dik

 

[EireChch]

You should do a number of different test that cover all basis asbestos, hydro-carbons, lechate. Below is a number contaminants that we would regularly test for when confirming contamination. We have guidance on screening levels and depending on the number of contaminants exceeding the screening levels we have to remediate.

Arsenic
pH
Cadmium
Total Sulphate
Chromium Water
Soluble Sulphate
Copper
Total Phenols
Nickel
BTEX Compounds (Benzene, Toluene,Ethylbenzene, Xylene)
Lead Sulphide
Mercury
Speciated Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
Selenium
Organic Matter Content
Zinc
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)

But as Dik has said, you really need an expert to determine the range and quantity of tests

Good luck

 

[killswitchengage]

Thanks for the feedback but i believe i have very little time to act sadly. Eirechch you just listed a bunch of heavy metals and hydrocarbons, i don't think wastewater treatment plants use or reject such elements . And i believe the treated water come from sewers

 

[EireChch]

If I was going to bother of doing any contamination testing it[pre][/pre] would be prudent to test for a range of contaminates, not just nitrate or phosphorus IMHO. Also, you are demolishing an existing building . There is always potential for asbestos with old buildings.

 

[killswitchengage]

The building is already rubble but i get what you are saying although i was planning from the very beginning to test for various chemicals

 

[Okiryu]

I would check with the local soil disposal facilities. They will give you the requirements for soil contamination regulations in order to receive those soils.

 

[BigH]

Besides the "testing" aspects which have been discussed, you need to make sure your sampling protocols are in place to ensure that there is no cross-contamination of samples. After each split spoon is taken, it needs to be rinsed to remove all residue of the previous sample. Also, your technicians handling the recovered samples need to use disposable gloves - each sample would require a separate glove so as to ensure that there is no cross-contamination. The drilling equipment between borings will also need to be cleaned. As well, you will need to have a chain of custody forms. When the sample is retrieved and bagged (or jarred), you will need to store in a secure place so that there is no "chance" of some nefarious issues (think of the OJ glove that was left in the police cruiser unguarded . . .).

http://www.gsm.org.my/products/702001-100620-PDF.pdf

http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/guidance/fspm/pdf/fsmp2005.pdf

(New Jersey Field Sampling Procedures Manual - geoenvironmental)

https://www.aweimagazine.com/article/soil-sampling-of-contaminated-land-336

https://viridor.co.uk/assets/Uploads/D52010GeotechReport.pdf

- a report you might like to look at (I have not read it in detail - but at 270 pages, it seems to be well done - not that volume = quality)

 

[killswitchengage]

Very clever remarks BigH much appreciated