Land contamination often happens due to construction or agricultural activities. Asbestos has been used in construction work in the past decades. It has been discovered that asbestos clouds have severe health impacts. If you are not careful during demolition of old buildings, it can lead to soil contamination.
If you use excessive fertilizer or pesticides, it can also lead to soil contamination.
Through soil testing, you can understand the present contamination level or know about the soil health. For those in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, and other cities in Australia, conducting regular soil testing ensures your land remains safe for use and free from harmful contaminants.
What is Soil Testing?
Soil testing is analysing particles of the soil and determining if all of them are present in the right proportion. If any harmful elements are present in the soil, it can reduce soil quality.
To determine the load-carrying capacity of soil STAMP or Soil Temperature and Moisture Profiling is done.
To get an accurate result of the soil quality, we collect samples from several locations of the site.
How is Soil Tested?
To determine the presence of different elements we conduct a wide variety of tests. A testing tube is inserted into the soil, approximately 10 cm in depth. We collect multiple soil samples from different locations of the site. When samples are analysed in the laboratory, multiple samples help to get an accurate profile of the soil.
To get a better idea of the soil tests we conduct, see the following list:
- Soil pH testing – Soil pH is the test to measure its acidity and alkalinity. It impacts overall soil health.
- Phosphorus Availability Test– It helps to determine if the soil requires additional phosphorus for agricultural activity.
- Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) test – The major cations that are present in soil are magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and aluminium. The test to determine cation exchange capacity helps to determine the quality of soil structure, its pH level and other factors.
- Soil Texture Test -The test is done to determine the proportion of sand, salt and clay in the soil sample. Determining soil texture is necessary as it influences the chemical characteristics of the soil. Air, water and nutrient movement is affected by the soil structure.
- Organic Carbon Test – Organic Carbon refers to the amount of organic matter existing in the soil. It helps to determine the characteristics of soil structure.
- Total Nitrogen Testing – The test is done to determine the long-term ability of the soil to supply nitrogen.
- Chloride Testing – In Australian soil, chloride is a heavily found anion. If chloride accumulates in a place, it can undermine the growth of plants
- Electrical Conductivity (1:5) Test – The test for electrical conductivity helps to indirectly measure soil salinity. If the soil of your property has high salinity, you may find it hard to grow plants.
- Complete ICP Scan– The test is very helpful in identifying if your soil has any nutrient deficiency or toxic contamination. The test checks for the availability of a wide range of elements
Call SERS today to know if you are living in an area with contamination in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney in Australia.
What are the Indicators of Soil Contamination?
Soil contamination can lead to degradation of your overall soil quality. If you have contaminated soil on your property, you cannot grow plants or cannot drink water from underneath.
The following symptoms may help identify a contaminated piece of land:
Discoloured Land
Possible causes
Substances that are not naturally occurring
Upper patches of discolouration may be the reason for deep soil contamination
What you can do
If you see dark patches of soil discolouration, get it tested. Once you know the type of contamination, you can call for our soil remediation service.
Strong Odour
Possible causes
Contamination by alien objects, for example petroleum or lead contamination
What you can do
Petroleum contamination can also contaminate groundwater. Call SERS to get soil testing done ASAP and call for experts for remediation.
Absence of Wildlife
Possible causes
Contaminated soil that affects the health of insects or worms
Insects and birds consumed by birds and other animals also weaken their health
It may cause them immediate health issues or generational issues, ultimately leading to a decrease in population
What you can do
Try to find the source of soil contamination. It can be overuse of fertilizers, or industrial contamination. Call SERS for help.
Soil Erosion
Possible causes
Underground contamination can weaken the core of the soil. It may create dips or holes for water to pass through. Once the underground sinks, the top layer of the soil erodes.
What you can do
Finding the source of contamination is difficult in such cases. Consult us to solve the problem.
Apart from these signs, you should also look for signs of asbestos contamination. Especially if you are living near an industrial area or if old building demolition is going on near your living area.
The most alarming part of asbestos contamination is that it shows no sign. To know if you have a risk of asbestos contamination, call SERS for an asbestos survey. Our experts will tell you in no time if you are living in a contaminated area.
Areas We Serve
Opt for soil testing services in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney in Australia from SERS. We extend our services to schools and residential and commercial properties.
Why Choose SERS?
- Customer First: We put our customers first. Tell us your requirements, we will provide you with customised service if necessary.
- Modern Technology: SERS provides only advanced and modern technology to test if you are living near a site with soil contamination. Our advanced technology helps you to accurately determine the type of soil contamination.
- Quality Service: We ensure our customers only good quality service and nothing else. Accuracy and transparency in our testing is key to our service.
- Field Expertise: Our sampling and testing experts have years of field experience. With their expertise, we deliver you accurate soil testing service.
- Reliable Service: Our expertise in the field and meticulous attention to detail make our services reliable and trustworthy.
Contact us
If you think that a patch of soil is contaminated and your health and lifestyle can be affected, don’t wait anymore. Get in touch with Site Environmental & Remediation Services (SERS) today! Our expert team will help you identify specific types of soil contamination and the remediation process no matter whether you are in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, or Sydney, we are here to ensure your land remains safe and healthy.