Devon Sewage & Waste Water Treatment – Ground Investigation

Commissioned by Galliford Try, The LK conducted a detailed ground investigation to facilitate the development of a new sewage and wastewater treatment infrastructure across multiple sites in South Devon. This project supports the planned extension and refurbishment of existing structures for residential apartments and includes the construction of a new apartment building with a basement. 

Scope of Services and Approach

The LK was tasked with executing an in-depth site investigation that would provide critical information regarding the soil, rock, and groundwater conditions. This data would inform contamination risk assessments and geotechnical analyses to guide foundational design and site preparation efforts.

The primary objectives included:

• Assessing soil and groundwater conditions across the site.
• Providing geotechnical data to inform the structural design, particularly for the planned basement construction.
• Identifying any potential contamination issues 

Solution and Methodology

To gather the necessary data, a combination of window sample boreholes and cable percussion boreholes, were carried out and tailored to capture both shallow and deeper ground characteristics:

A total of four window sample boreholes were drilled at key locations across the site. This method allowed for rapid, shallow depth sampling and testing, yielding insights into the upper soil layers and helping to identify any immediate contamination concerns.

Two deeper cable percussion boreholes were drilled to obtain subsurface data, particularly in areas where foundation loads from the planned construction were anticipated to be substantial. 

Client Benefits and Project Outcomes

By deepening the cable percussion boreholes, The LK were able to provide additional data critical to the engineering design of deep foundations, particularly in relation to pile stability.

Having an adaptable approach allowed The LK to address unexpected site conditions without significant project delays, helping to keep the investigation within the projected timeline and budget.