Environment consultants recommend a Phase 1 desktop survey (or study) in order to investigate closely whether or not there’s a possibility of contamination in the land or property of a business. An interpretive report is conducted by the specialists in question with the help of which it becomes easier to determine and assess any significant risks that are associated with contamination.

There are 3 main components that environment consultants from Adeptus, a UK based consultancy look for when carrying out the site assessment and survey;

Source: In other words, the contaminant, i.e. the substance that is found in, on or under the land where the property is sitting at. This contaminant is considered to be a severe hazard, not only to human health but also to water resources and the environment in general.

Pathway:  When the source of the contamination is determined, environmental specialists usually look for how it can be exposed to the receptor i.e. resources that can be adversely affected by a contaminant (if any) or exposed by the same.

Receptor: Calling in an agency that designs effective and appropriate environmental management systems is usually the order of the day when there’s even the suspicion of land, water or another such contamination in or near your property.

What to Expect From a Desktop Survey

If you decide to go through the risk assessment survey, the environmental consultancy in question will send specialists who will collect both current and historical information in regards to land usage of both the site and surrounding areas. This information and data includes;

·         Aerial Photos

·         Ordinance Survey Maps

·         Trade Directories

·         And more

In order to come up with the right conclusion and results, Adeptus also collaborates with governmental bodies such as the British Geological Survey, Local Authorities, the Coal Authority, and last but not the least the Environment Agency.

This part of the process is the most important as the specialists will determine whether or not the possibility of contamination is a threat to the environment and humans. If the levels exceed above the standards set by the concerned authority, Phase 2 Site Investigation is often recommended. Associated with Quantitative Risk Assessment, the specialist from Adeptus will only carry out this phase after completing the site specific conceptual model and qualitative risk assessment of the entire property and surrounding land.

Conducting such an assessment is very important, especially if your property is on a land that was used for something else or if you are buying land/property. If none of the above, you can always hire environmental consultants to design an effective environmental management system for your business.