Soilfix are delighted to have been ‘Highly Commended‘ at the 20th Anniversary Brownfield Awards in Manchester, after being shortlisted for Best Biodiversity Enhancement on a Brownfield Project – for works related to lagoons within legacy industrial lands, Northern Ireland.
Environmental Restoration Works were carried out by Soilfix for Jacobs acting on behalf of their multi-national industrial client. A robust capping system was required over basal sediments and across two berms on a large lagoon, that were historically impacted by naphthalene tars. Working off a floating pontoon using specialist marine plant and equipment, Soilfix installed a series of Reactive Core Mats encased with Organoclay across a 6,000m2 area of basal sediments (sitting about 6ft below water level) and the two berms. The organoclay mats were overlapped, anchored in place and capped with a consistent layer of ballast, whilst the perimeters were capped with organo-clay Aquablok pellets to form a robust seal around all edges of the mats.
Verification of the ‘as built’ capping system was implemented using a combination of submerged camera surveying, GPS-enabled plant and bathymetric survey techniques to confirm satisfactory placement of the rolls / pellets and a consistent thickness of ballast to the satisfaction of Jacobs. The original design concept was developed by Jacobs and further developed into a detailed construction methodology and sequencing arrangement by Soilfix.
The lagoon forms part of a Wider Natural Treatment System and works were designed and carried out so as not to impact wider water quality, with mitigation measures and if required, contingent emergency response measures in place. Continual monitoring carried out during and after works completion demonstrated that works were successfully completed with no impact on the Wider Natural Treatment system. All works were completed to programme (despite numerous storms passing over from the Atlantic!), with no lost time, accidents, or environmental incidents; both key performance indicators required by the Jacobs and the client.
The completed works to the capped lagoon have provided a fantastic opportunity for further biodiversity enhancement on the wider Natural Treatment System at the site, which is situated adjacent to two waterbodies categorised as Areas of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area and Ramsar sites.
The client’s Project Director noted “The lagoons Natural Treatment System is a highly valued resource which is helping biodiversity enhancement on-site as well as in the wider environment. The team’s strategy and design has enabled on-site treatment of several surface waters and groundwater from the wider site, removing historical direct discharges to controlled watercourses. We have also seen a marked increase in flora and fauna within the system itself.”
