More Multi Phase Extraction (MPE) in Italy

Following the acceptance of our detailed designs by Italian regulators Ecologia was awarded the contract to manufacture plant and equipment and undertake MPE works at a site in Northern Italy after a very competitive tender selection. The system will comprise an SVE component and pumped groundwater removal with associated treatment at the surface. The plant will be manufactured in Kent and installed during February next year with the logistical support of our Italian subsidiary.

Mixed Remediation in West London

Ecologia has won an important contract to remediate a site in West London due for residential re-development. Ecologia will take possession of the site and act as principal contractor and will hand the site back following verification from regulators. Ecologia will use ozone sparging, soil vapour extraction and ex-situ bioremediation to remove risks to controlled waters and human health.

Ecologia Wins Brownfield Briefing Awards 2010 for Best Combination of Remediation Techniques

Ecologia is proud to announce that it has won the Brownfield Briefing annual innovation awards for the second year in a row. Ecologia were awarded the prize for the best combination of remediation techniques for its work at a site in North London. The project tackled contamination in the soils and groundwater at the site by using various techniques including soil vapour extraction enhanced with in-situ radio frequency soil heating (ISFRH) coupled with ex-situ bioremediation, used to treat smaller volumes found in hotspots around the site. The groundwater was treated by sparging ozone into the saturated zone to provide a chemical oxidative effect and oxygenation of the aquifer to stimulate in-situ bioremediation.

Ecologia provided its client with a full design and operation service using its full range of in house capabilities; including manufacture of the treatment equipment, drilling works and licensed operation of the remediation project. The project treated in excess of 10,000 cubic metres of soil without the requirement for any off site disposal.

The project was completed within the agreed programme and within the agreed budget to allow the site to be handed over following completion without delay. The site is now being redeveloped for housing.

Ecologia Achieves Certification to BS OHSAS 18001

Ecologia is pleased to announce the successful certification of our management system to BS OHSAS 18001.  The scope of the certification includes environmental and geotechnical services managed from our Head Office in Sittingbourne.

An Integrated Management System has been developed to include the Company’s existing ISO 9001 Quality Management System and the requirements of BS OHSAS 18001.  The system also paves the way for the formalisation of our Environmental Management Procedures and certification to ISO 14001 in the future.

Our Integrated Management System now forms the basis for improvement in Quality and Health and Safety performance across the business.

Emergency Excavation and Deep Drilling to Protect a Drinking Water Abstraction Borehole in Kent

Ecologia was instructed to undertake emergency excavation works, after an accidental loss of approximately 850 litres of kerosene heating oil from a faulty above-ground storage tank at a private domestic property in Kent. The loss occurred above a Principal Aquifer in close proximity to a major drinking water abstraction point.

The emergency works initially comprised hand augering and trial pitting, with on-site and laboratory testing of soils, in order to categorise and delineate the contamination and to assess the risks to receptors such as groundwater and human health.

The emergency works identified that the oil had migrated vertically through fractures within the unsaturated zone of the chalk. Lateral contaminant migration was found to be minimal, however, significant contamination was found to have migrated vertically to depth. Risks to the groundwater and the Principal Aquifer were identified as very high.

In order to assess contaminant migration pathways and any impact to the principal aquifer a total of four deep groundwater monitoring boreholes were installed around the point of loss after consultation with the Environment Agency. Drilling methods comprised hollow stem augering and rotary single coring without the use of water flush. These methods ensured efficient drilling of the chalk without aiding any contaminant migration, whilst allowing undisturbed samples of the chalk to be taken at groundwater level.

The boreholes were drilled to 40m below ground level (bgl) intercepting  the aquifer located at approximately 32m bgl in order to allow continuous groundwater monitoring.

Next stage of work will include groundwater monitoring, derivation of remedial targets protective of the principal chalk aquifer and appraisal of appropriate remedial options with the Environment Agency, if deemed necessary.

Aftermath of the Buncefield Incident: Ecologia Appointed to Assess Risk to Health

Five years on from the incident, when fire raged through the Buncefield Depot, two sets of locked gates block either entrance to Cherry Tree Lane.  Ecologia, jointly instructed by Hertfordshire County Council and Total UK, are to undertake investigations at the Lane a public highway that runs through the heart of the Oil Depot.

Cherry Tree Lane, forms a natural dip in the centre of the Depot.  Here, during the Incident in 2005, large volumes of fire-fighting water mixed with oil from ruptured pipes and tanks formed large pools of contaminative liquid.  Although liquids were removed by tanker or otherwise escaped into the ground during the weeks that followed, the Lane has been closed to the public ever since.

Using a combination of targeted and strategic sampling, Ecologia proposes to assess the level of residual contamination within the roadway and verges.  Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) coupled with statistical analysis will identify potential remediation requirements.  The risk assessment will assume unrestricted access to the Lane and verges by vulnerable members of society, particularly children.

The completion of QRA coupled with potential remediation and reparation of damaged infrastructure will ultimately allow Hertfordshire County Council to reopen Cherry Tree Lane to the public, in the knowledge that it is safe to do so.

Fast Food without the Oil: Ecologia Turning Forecourts into Foodcourts

Ecologia has been recently awarded a contract to carry out site investigation, risk assessment and site remediation at a former service station in Kent by an Irish construction contractor. The site will be redeveloped  as a fast food outlet. Ecologia will have to review the conceptual model and remediation strategy produced by others in order to meet the very tight timescales required by the client. The site will be run as a cluster site under the newly introduced CL:AIRE material management plan. Initial intrusive work on site is set to commence by the end of this week.

More Pump & Treat in Italy

Ecologia UK has been contracted to provide a pump and treat system to deal with spreading chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination at a site near Bologna, Italy. Ecologia’s system and process was approved by local regulators and works are now being prepared for installation and commissioning during September. The system has been specifically designed to minimise maintenance requirements and filter vessels are designed to be removed directly by the waste contractor once spent. The system can be monitored from the UK so that our staff can be alerted well in advance of maintenance requirements.

Foundry Reclamation in Kent

Ecologia has been appointed by a developer to undertake the remediation of a former foundry in East Kent. The site will be redeveloped for mixed commercial and residential use.  The remediation work will entail removal of existing building foundations, excavation and screening of contamination hotspots with on site treatment using biopiles, localised dewatering and treatment of groundwater hydrocarbon contamination.  The site will be operated under a materials management plan devised using the new CL:AIRE code of practice for the definition of waste.

Ecologia is a Step Closer to BS-OHSAS 18001 Certification

Ecologia is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed the first stage of the audit process in order to achieve BS OHSAS 18001 certification of operations managed from our Head Office in Sittingbourne.  The next stage is scheduled for June 2010 when we hope to achieve full certification. Ecologia already holds certification to BS EN ISO 9001 in Sittingbourne, Stafford and Honiton.  BS OHSAS 18001 is being rolled out throughout the company as part of an Integrated Management System.