Acid Sulfate Soils Assessment & Management
The presence of acid sulfate soils can be a significant constraint on planning at regional and local levels, introducing restrictions on land use and development options. Within areas of (suspected) acid sulfate soils, many construction or engineering activities warrant an assessment of the risk exposing acid sulfate soils.
Our team of Geochemists and Environmental Scientists provide highly skilled services relating to Actual Acid Sulfate Soils, including:
Preliminary Desktop Assessment |
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Establishment of characteristics of proposed works and whether they may impact upon acid sulfate soils
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Desktop review of Acid Sulfate Planning maps, risk maps and any relevant planning instruments |
Consideration of soil and groundwater impacts if the proposed works are initiated |
If site characteristics suggest probability of acid sulfate soils, an Acid Sulfate Soil Assessment is conducted |
Acid Sulfate Soil Management Plan |
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A site-specific treatment strategy preventing the potential for on-site and off-site impacts |
Some management strategies include: avoidance of soil disturbance, preventing the oxidation of sulphides, oxidation of sulphide and neutralising acid as it produced, separating out and treating the sulphidic component and burial below water table |
Detailed Acid Sulfate Soil Assessment |
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Background review of site information and detailed site inspection
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Drilling of boreholes by our own in-house drilling team |
Installation of groundwater monitoring wells |
Soil sampling at varying depths and groundwater sampling |
Screening of collected soil samples for pH and laboratory tests of samples exhibiting the lowest pH for acid sulfate |
Screening of collected groundwater samples for Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Redox potential and temperature and laboratory analysis for Chloride (Cl–) and Sulfate (SO42-) |
Cold storage of all samples collected |
Preparation of a report outlining:
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We employ the most cost-effective and environmentally benign methods. All ADE investigations and reporting are conducted in accordance with the Acid Sulfate Soil Manual published by the Acid Sulfate Soils Management Advisory Committee.
We maintain the highest standards of security when conducting environmental assessments. All the details of the investigations are strictly confidential.
Enquiries
Andrew Mitchell
National Environmental Lead
0437 834 489
Matthew askeland
Senior Environmental Scientist & PFAS Specialist
