Guidelines on remediation of contaminated sites

Appendix 7.1
Reporting

Figures and Tables

Figures are included to facilitate comprehension and to provide overviews. Remember a key of symbols and to state scale and compass on all maps.

Maps are more easily readable if round scales are used; 1:25,000, 1:10,000, 1:500, etc.

In some cases, the extent of contamination can be presented graphically by means of bar charts or pie charts. However, this method of presentation has a weakness in that it does not provide opportunities for outlining the three-dimensional extent of contamination.

By outlining a number of simple geological sections on which the results from analyses are stated, it is possible to present an image of the contamination in three dimensions. These sections may take up so much space that they have to be placed in an annex.

Below is a list of the figures which may be included in a preliminary contamination investigation at a site:

1.1 Overview: Location of the site.
2.1 Site plan: Position of buildings and plants during the period of operation.
2.2 Site plan: Present landuse.
2.3 Overview: Location of the site in relation to water-supply wells and surface recipients.
4.1 Site plan: Location of borings, soil gas measuring points, etc.
5.1 Site plan: Potentiometric surface maps for groundwater aquifers near the surface at the site.
5.2 Site plan: Potentiometric surface maps for groundwater aquifers at greater depths in the area.
6.1 Site plan: Extent of contamination – soil.
6.2 Cross-section: Extent of soil contamination.
6.3 Site plan: Extent of contamination - groundwater near the surface.

A number of the above site plans may take up so much space that they have to be placed in an annex.

If more than a few numbers are to be presented in a text, this is best done in a table.

Text in tables and figures should be short, yet sufficiently descriptive to render the table/figure immediately comprehensible.

Appendix and annex

Below are examples of the types of appendices the report can include:

Drilling work and collection of soil samples

Collection of water samples

Soil gas measurements

Measurements with photo-ionisation detector

Analytical methods and detection limits

Stated below are the types of annexes which may be included in a contamination investigation:
Site plan with location of borings and measuring points
Lithologic logs, including key to symbols
Levelling datums and water-level measurements
Geological cross-sections
Documentation of water sample collection
Analytical reports

The number and size of appendices and annexes depends on each task, and the above list of appendices and annexes can be supplemented as needed.