Environmental Remediation Services

Contaminated Soil Testing & Remediation

Pacific Group Developments provides comprehensive environmental remediation services related to soil and water contamination across Vancouver Island. Home heating oil is hazardous, and soil and groundwater contamination can occur if oil leaks into the ground. Oil can also migrate, leading to soil and groundwater contamination including off-site to neighbouring properties.

Many of our clients are concerned about liability issues with leaking oil tanks, as insurance companies often have exclusions in their policy that leave the property owner solely responsible for environmental contamination. Soil contamination can also negatively affect property values, often dramatically. As a result, many real estate transactions and land developments will raise the issue and require surety to proceed.

Soil & Water Testing Services

Pacific Group Developments provides that surety through soil testing, analysis, and reporting to confirm whether your soil is safe or if it requires remediation. Our technicians can conduct environmental soil and water analysis to determine the best plan for your property. We provide soil testing, analysis, and environmental reporting services to provide you with the peace of mind you need to enjoy, develop, or sell your property.

Testing & Analysis Services

• Water and soil testing and analysis
• Soil boring and testing
• Phase I and II assessments and remedial works
• Contaminated soil remediation
• Soil sampling and analysis
• Soil testing for residential, commercial, and industrial sites
• Concrete and rock testing for contamination
• Groundwater testing for contamination

Understanding Contamination Levels

Different zoning designations have different thresholds for contamination levels and are identified as residential, commercial, or industrial. In many cases, the presence of chemicals and metals are detectable but below the designated limit for acceptability. Therefore, many times no remediation is required unless off-site migration is of concern.

Sources of Contamination

Soil and water contamination issues can originate from various sources:

• Heating oil from underground storage tanks
• Chemicals such as antifreeze, creosote, engine oils, dry cleaning products
• Metals and other hazardous materials
• Many other chemical sources

In larger concentrations, many chemicals can create contamination and there is a need to identify and confirm the presence of these elements. We offer a full range of services to sample and analyze soil and water and report the findings to form legal documentation in formats accepted by financial institutions, insurance companies, government agencies, and legal professionals.

Remediation Options

Heating oil will eventually break down naturally over time, and in certain conditions the natural processes are all that is required to satisfactorily clean up the soil. We can also accelerate the natural process by on-site treatment including customized treatment methodologies to clean the contaminated site.

On-Site Treatment

For certain types of contamination, particularly heating oil, we can accelerate natural breakdown through:

• Aeration of contaminated soil
• Fertilization to promote bacterial activity
• Introduction of specially developed oil-consuming bacteria
• Customized treatment methodologies specific to your site conditions

Soil Removal & Replacement

In many cases, however, removal of contaminated soil and replacement with clean soil is the best remediation option. This involves:

• Excavation of contaminated soil
• Proper disposal at certified remediation facilities
• Replacement with clean fill material
• Verification testing to confirm successful remediation
• Obtaining waste applications, manifests, and notices of independent remediation

Professional & Compliant

With over 30 years of environmental work on Vancouver Island, we follow all safety protocols and environmental regulations. Our work is thorough, documented, and done right. We handle every phase in-house from initial assessment to final certification, prioritizing environmental protection with proper disposal methods and respectful work in sensitive areas.

We understand British Columbia’s environmental regulations and coordinate with environmental consultants, laboratories, and regulatory agencies to ensure full compliance on every project.