Soil and Groundwater Contamination Survey and Countermeasure Technologies

Category of Tchnology	Survey	Sampling Technology
Media	Soil, Groundwater, Soil Gas
Contaminants	Inorganic Compounds (total CN, etc) Reducible Inorganic Compounds (Cr6+, etc) Volatile Chlorinated Organic Compounds (TCE, PCE, etc) Semi Volatile Chlorinated Organic Compounds (PCB, etc) Volatile Hydrocarbon (Benzene, etc) Agricultural Chemicals (Organic Phosphorus Compounds, etc)
	Applied (Demonstrated) Substances	Volatile Chlorinated Organic Compounds
Scope	Concentration Range	Liquid material might escape when undisturbed sample is taken.
	Hydrogeological Conditions	Saturated Unsaturated	Permeable Layer Semi to Impermeable Layer
	Chemical Soil Properties
	Other Remarks	A hydraulic hammer mounted on a buggy can sink probes into clay layers and gravel containing sandy soils.
Technology Description	Classification
	Status	Fully Commercialized Soil and Groundwater Countermeasure Test Study (Performed 1996)
	Outline of Technology	For surveying the soil and groundwater contaminated by volatile substances, probes are penetrated into the ground to sample soil, soil gas and groundwater by using hydraulic hammer.  This method is more effective and labor-saving than the “hammer-type simple boring./td>
	Required Pre- and Post-treatment
	Enhance Effectiveness through Combination	Sample collecting holes can be used as wells for soil gas extraction or monitoring wells, depending on their diameter.
	Case History	Hydraulic hammer’s capacity to drive down probes and soil-gas and groundwater sampling technologies were tested in seven areas with different geological features.  The results showed that (1) probes can penetrate soils with N value exceeding 15, (2) probes can be hammered down to the depth of about 20 m in a few minutes, (3) sampling of soil gas from six different points at depths of 1 m to 10 m can be completed in about 200 minutes, and (4) groundwater can be sampled, but it takes about 60 minutes for the groundwater level to stabilize at the depth of around 10 m.
	Application Examples	It has been used in many cases.
	Limitations	(1) Space for a buggy (approximately 1.5 m x 2.0 m) is necessary.  (2) When working in a building, care should be taken against exhaust humes. (3) Workers will be exposed to noise level of about 95 dB.
	Properties of Treated Soil	-
Schematic Flow Process	Hydraulic Hammer Mounted on Buggy
Applicability	In Situ Applicability	Possible
	Ground Structures	Applicable even if Ground Structures are Present *
	Required Excavation
	Groundwater Extraction	None
	Required Space	Space for a buggy (approximately 1.5 m x 2.0 m) is necessary.
	Operational Time	-
	Installation Time	If the work is limited to hammering down probes, about 20 m can be covered by a day’s work.
	Maintenance and Control Requirements	-
	Additional Remarks	* Space for a buggy is required. Concrete floors must be dug separately by cutters.
Secondary Impacts to Environment	Secondary Treatment Required?	-
	Effects on Living Environment	Noise Odor (Exhaust gas of buggy)
	Additives	-
	Possibility of Contaminant Spreading	If non-permeable stratum, such as clay, is penetrated, pollutants in upper layers and groundwater might enter into deeper strata.
	Secondary By-products	-

• Understanding the Contamination Survey and Countermeasure Technology Description Sheet
• Where to make contact

Soil Environment Management Division, Water Environment Department, Environmental Management Bureau, Ministry of Environment
Tel: +81-3-5521-8319
E-mail: MOE@env.go.jp