Contaminated sites
Gain planning security
Determine pollutant situation
Are you planning a construction project or the acquisition of a property? Polluted sites present special challenges. First of all, the pollutant situation must be precisely determined.
Building owners are obliged to separate and dispose of contaminated material in accordance with regulations. We assess the environmental hazard and evaluate suitable measures with you.
With our comprehensive contaminated site consulting services, we contribute technical expertise, knowledge of public law procedures and legal aspects. Ecosens is a member of the specialist group of contaminated site consultants of arv Building Materials Recycling Switzerland.
Our services
Our environmental professionals can assist you with the following services:
- Consulting and clarifications in connection with entries in the "Cadastre of polluted sites".
- Support for questions regarding loads in the subsurface
- Historical and technical investigation of real estate
- Planning and execution of preliminary and detailed investigations (sampling) in cooperation with specialized drilling companies and laboratories
- Preparation of hazard assessments and evaluation of the urgency of remediation measures
- Cost estimates as a result of charges
- Creation of remediation concepts, planning and implementation of remediation in soil and groundwater
- Site management contaminated sites
- Legal advice on complex liability issues and contract drafting
- Clarification of cost sharing between private and public sector (cost sharing order)
- Communication and mediation between stakeholders (owners, authorities, lenders)
From the investigation to remediation to the success control
With a carefully executed historical and technical investigation, areas with contaminant loads are identified and classified in terms of waste and contaminated sites.
Contact
Melanie Tschopp-Vögtli
Head of Department Contaminated Sites and Geology
Julia Hunziker
Deputy Head of the Contaminated Sites and Geology Department
Our references
Preliminary investigation of municipal landfill, Zurich
Redevelopment CKW site, Zurich
Groundwater remediation industrial site, Seebach
Preliminary investigation of municipal landfill, Zurich
The municipality was requested by the canton to investigate a former municipal landfill. Ecosens conducted a preliminary investigation for the municipality in accordance with the Ordinance on Contaminated Sites.
The landfill was filled in the period before 1940 and there is no detailed historical information. The presumed landfill site is crossed by a stream and is partially covered by a high-rise building. Another part is used for agriculture. In addition, the site is located in an area with usable groundwater.
The landfill perimeter was delimited by a technical investigation tailored to the site and the impact of the landfill on the protected resources soil, groundwater and surface water was assessed by targeted sampling. Based on the results of the investigation, it became clear that the landfill had no negative impact on the environment. Thus, the site could be classified according to the Contaminated Sites Ordinance. The landfill site remains registered in the register of polluted sites (KbS), but no further measures (neither monitoring nor remediation) are necessary. more >>
Redevelopment CKW site, Zurich
As a result of many years of operation of a dry cleaning business, chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) contamination occurred in the subsurface of a private property. Due to the impaired groundwater, the site had to be remediated. The remediation was carried out as part of a construction project by means of excavation.
Ecosens supported the client in the elaboration of the remediation project, tendering and execution of the remediation. In particular, the tight space conditions and work safety in the middle of the residential area posed major challenges.
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Groundwater remediation industrial site, Seebach
In the subsoil of this industrial site there is damage with highly chlorinated hydrocarbons (tetrachloroethene). The contaminants extend into the groundwater-saturated zone (8-17 m a.s.l.). Due to the deep location of the contamination, the implementation of an in-situ remediation variant was in the foreground.
Considering the site characteristics, anaerobic dechlorination was chosen. A cosubstrate (in this case molasses) was injected as a carbon source via injection wells. This enabled anaerobic dechlorination of the tetrachloroethene.
The measure was continuously monitored by groundwater sampling. The groundwater-saturated area was successfully remediated. The unsaturated subsoil between 0-8 m a.s.l. will be remediated by excavation as part of a construction project.
Ecosens AG developed the remediation project and carried out a pilot test following the preliminary and detailed investigation required by the law on contaminated sites. During the remediation phase, Ecosens AG coordinated all third-party services (remediation company, drilling company, laboratory, etc.) and is responsible for the evaluation of the data, ongoing adjustments to the remediation process and the presentation of the data to the client and the authorities (AWEL). more >>
