Environmental Services

Contaminated Land Management

We carry out Contaminated Land Management (CLM) investigations, identification and long-term management of soils and groundwater that has been chemically impacted by human activities.  This may include accidental or intentional release of substances that are toxic to both the environment and human health.  Activities commonly associated with contaminated land studies in New Zealand include historic agricultural & horticultural land, industrial manufacturing & processing sites, service stations and landfills.

CLM investigations in New Zealand are governed by multiple guidance documents and regulations issued under the Resource Management Act (RMA, 1991). Standards for investigation and reporting follow Ministry for the Environment guidelines, and are enforced by individual Regional and District Councils minimum reporting requirements.  Following further regulations relating to the protection of human health (National Environmental Standard – NES) reporting of CLM investigations are required to be undertaken by Suitably Qualified and Experienced Practitioners (SQEPs), with sufficient demonstrable experience relating to the assessment of contaminated land.

Works completed by our experienced environmental team include;

• Desktop site assessments for identification of potential site contamination activities (PSI – Preliminary Site Investigation)

• Onsite sampling and quantitative assessments of contamination levels, with comparison to regulatory limits (DSI – Detailed Site Investigation)

• Preparation of remediation guidance documents and site management plans (RAP/SMP – Remediation Action Plan/Site Management Plan)

• Supervision and sign-off reporting remediation of contaminated sites (SVR – Site Validation Report)

• Landfill screening for cut-to-waste earthworks  excavations

• Design of long-term containment structures for contaminated materials 

All of our soil contamination projects are undertaken by suitably qualified environmental engineers as required under the National Environmental Standard who are educated and have obtained experience related to the recognition and interpretation of soil contaminants, the understanding of how this impacts the environment and knowledge of methods and recommendations by which to mitigate the hazards and underlying soil conditions.

Stormwater & Hydrology

Our stormwater & hydrology team offers stormwater management services including stormwater disposal via on-site soakage, detention/retention specification and off-site discharge to public reticulated stormwater systems or watercourses. Soil & Rock Consultants can also provide stormwater neutrality assessments for rural countryside living areas.

Excessive stormwater become runoff flows via overland flow path and can cause flooding that can have potential risk and/or impact to the surrounding environment. Stormwater comes from rain collected in roofed or paved areas and runoff from rainfall exceeding the soil capacity to absorb water.

Our experienced team also offers services relating to overland flow path assessment, mitigation and diversion, as well as flood modelling and impact assessment.

Works completed by our experienced personnel include but are not limited to;

• On-site stormwater soakage investigation

• Assessment of soakage capacity

• Off-site Stormwater Management 

• Flood level modelling & diversion 

• Overland flow path mitigation & diversion

• Stormwater/Hydraulic neutrality reporting

On-site Wastewater Treatment & Dispersal

On-site wastewater treatment & dispersal systems typically provide treatment of wastewater products that are produced and subsequently treated and disposed of within the same property.

Our wastewater treatment and dispersal design team provide site-specific solutions for your on-site wastewater project. Our designs range from domestic systems to Schools, Church, Marae & campground installations.

We have expertise where sites are difficult. We have an enviable track record with Resource Consent applications where proposals are outside ‘Permitted Activity’ criteria. Our designs comply with the Auckland Council Unitary Plan, TP58 and National Standards.

Our qualified team of engineers provide the following services;

• Preparation of an on-site wastewater treatment & dispersal design/assessment report

• Preparation of a dispersal network design to suit the site and practical installation

• Assessment of environmental effects

• Preparation of Resource Consent applications for complex situations

Hydrogeological Studies

We carry out hydrogeological assessments for a variety of purposes, including identification of water supplies (industrial and drinking water), dewatering assessments for construction excavations, and forensic assessments relating to foundation or slope failures, and water supply losses from storage reservoirs.  Hydrogeological investigations range from desktop reviews or monitoring, to onsite hydraulic testing, and computer modelling depending on client or regulatory requirements.

Our hydrogeology team offers a comprehensive range of services relating to water resource management, hydrogeology and hydrology services include planning, design, supervision, management and development programmes in the following fields;

Our qualified environmental professionals provide the following services:

• Groundwater modelling and groundwater surface interaction

• Water supply investigation and development (Potable & Industrial)

• Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) for resource consent

• Dewatering assessments for construction impact assessment

• Design and implementation of groundwater sampling programmes

• Environmental monitoring and reporting

• Hydraulic testing and analysis (Pumping test)

• Production and monitoring of well installation and abandonment