Soil Gas Surveys
Sutok Environmental Consulting has extensive experience in environmental consulting and conducting soil gas surveys at various sites.
A soil gas survey is a critical stage in the environmental investigation of a site. The purpose of the soil gas survey is to determine whether there is contamination in the gases trapped within the soil. The main pollutants targeted during a soil gas survey are volatile contaminants, which can move between different phases of the soil (solid–liquid–gas) and travel through cracks and pores, leading to the spread of pollution.
The need for soil gas surveys can arise for several main reasons:
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Identifying potential contamination during the preparation of a historical survey.
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Suspicion of contamination following an incident.
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Regulatory requirements based on the site's location and historical information.
How is Soil Gas Survey Conducted?
Initially, an environmental consultant prepares a soil gas sampling plan according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the findings of the historical survey. Upon approval of the sampling plan, coordination takes place between the consultant, a certified sampler (certified by the Laboratory Accreditation Authority according to ISO 17025), the drilling operator, and the regulator.
During the survey, wells for soil gas sampling are drilled and installed. A certified sampler then attaches a canister—a stainless steel container used to collect soil gases—to the wells. The filled canisters are transferred to an accredited laboratory for analysis, and the analytical results are sent to the consultant for evaluation.
What is the Significance of the Survey Findings?
Sometimes, soil gas survey results indicate that there is no soil gas contamination present at the site. The decision to declare the site clean or to require additional tests, such as soil analyses, rests with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and depends on factors such as the types of potential contaminants at the site and known pollution of nearby sites.
In cases where concentrations above the Ministry’s threshold values are found in one or more substances, the consultant must recommend whether to repeat the survey or proceed with further testing and plan site remediation procedures.
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