What are the key elements of a soil pollution study?
The impacts of pollution on land use
When pollution is present on land, certain uses may be prohibited. This is particularly the case in residential areas: in case of soil pollution, the establishment of a vegetable garden, for example, may be prohibited, or even the construction of a property.
Les soil pollution issues Are very Important since the land cannot necessarily be used as desired, and these are often cases encountered in residential area. As for industrial areas, some elements will indicate that activities cannot be carried out on land where the pollution actually presents a risk to human health or for The environment, and in this case, a sanitation will then be necessary.
The soil study makes it possible to define:
- If the land is polluted ; and if this is the case, to define whether the pollution presents a risk to human health, or a risk of dispersion to a neighboring plot, for example. The soil study also makes it possible to determine whether pollution poses a risk to the ecosystems present on or near the site.
- Land uses and type of sanitation which will have to be carried out. The study also aims to determine the cost of this sanitation.
As part of a real estate development project, some sites will require remediation which can be very expensive but which can also call into question the development of land. For this reason, the study must be carried out before the project.
Historical pollution or new pollution?
In the Walloon decree Relating to soil management, we can note that a pollution generated After April 30, 2007 Is a pollution considered to be” nouvelle ”. On the other hand, if pollution has occurred before this date, it is then a” historical pollution ”.
In various cases, historical pollution may remain in place as long as it can be shown that it does not present a risk to human health or the environment.
For example, it may be pollution due to a historic embankment (demolition waste, etc.). In this case, if it can be shown that the top meter of land is healthy and that the risk to human health or the environment is under control, the pollution can then remain in place.
However, the soil decree provides that if it is new pollution, sanitation is to be expected.
What are the challenges of soil pollution on the development of a real estate project?
As part of a residential real estate project, soil pollution Will present different issues ; issues that we will analyze to determine how the site can be developed.
For some sites, various polluted areas will have to be cleaned up, for example, in the event of hydrocarbon pollution. As a design office specialized in soil pollution, our job is to arrive sufficiently early in the project real estate, for develop it effectively and consistently, that is, respecting environmental principles and trying to minimize land flows. The management of excavated soil is indeed expensive, and has a negative impact in terms of carbon balance (handling and pre-treatment of soil, road transport, etc.). Our aim is to preserve as much land as possible on the plot, by limiting movements.
We make every effort to ensure that your project succeeds, while respecting the environmental and administrative framework. As part of a real estate project, we precisely analyze the location of roads and buildings, or even the areas that should not be earthed. Our mission is to make your project economically viable, while allowing future residents to live there safely.
This is why it is important that we be able to be involved in real estate development discussions early on in order to take into account all these parameters, before starting construction.