Exploratory soil survey for determining nitrogen compensation

T&A has carried out an exploratory soil survey in a nature reserve. The reason for the investigation was to determine the possible nitrogen compensation, necessary as a result of the construction of new infrastructure elsewhere in the Netherlands. The nitrogen compensation consists of the development of new nature areas.

PFAS

For the intended compensation plan to succeed, thousands of cubic meters of sand had to be processed. Since the processed sand was was not leaving the project area, no PFAS analyses had to be performed.

Soil quality research

The preliminary investigation revealed that at the location, which had never been developed, the presence of environmental contaminants was not likely. During the field work 29 boreholes were placed, 2 of which were provided with a monitoring well. All measured levels met the applicable Background values. There was no case of serious soil contamination at the site and therefore no risks to public health and/or the environment.

Groundwater level

To realize nitrogen compensation, the client wants to construct a so-called wet dune valley in the area. Since the groundwater level determines the level to which the area must be excavated, T&A has monitored the groundwater level in the project area over a period of six months.

The research results have shown that it is possible to achieve nitrogen compensation in this area.