A brief catch-up with our Senior Remediation Engineer, Matt Izard
What is it that you actually do, Matt?
I am a Senior Remediation Engineer. I will get involved in all aspects of site work for both soil remediation and groundwater remediation. I even have very capable Junior Engineers to oversee and teach on site. I could be involved in any stage of a project from planning/procurement, undertaking the site work or writing the completion report.
Since joining Soilfix, what have been your best parts of the job so far?
I favour in-situ remediation so the best part of the job for me is when we get a water treatment system on site. I’m already working with my third water treatment system at Soilfix in Bromley by Bow after completing projects in Hackney and Cambridge.
Has anything surprised you in your role?
Questions like can you sort out a sample for triaxial permeability and unconfined compressive strength? Geotechnics is not my strength, but luckily I’m surrounded by knowledgeable colleagues who are willing to help. I’ve even been put on a training course or two to get me up to speed with the earthwork side of things.
What is your most interesting aspect of your day to day role?
The most interesting aspect of my day to day role is when you get the lab results back for routine groundwater sampling. Then followed by planning how to target the remaining contamination with pumps and/or chemical treatment. We can never just leave a system running. You always have to react to the data and move pumps around to target new patches for remediation.
At what point did you realise that a career in remediation was the way forward for you?
As soon as I started really. Although the realisation grew when I got to see the end result of more and more projects. It’s really rewarding seeing a former contaminated site being put to good use for homes or business after we have finished with it.
