PCB Collection Trench Installation at a Toronto Industrial Facility

Soil & Groundwater Remediation, PCB Clean-up

Tri-Phase was retained by an international utilities company to provide a groundwater collection trench system for one of their sites located in Toronto, Ontario. This facility produced transformers and electrical components and had considerable groundwater PCB-contamination. Tri-Phase’s scope of work included the excavation of the 28 foot deep trench with the minimum possible trench width to minimize the amount of contaminated soil generated. The work also included the commissioning of six 5-foot diameter manholes with pumping systems. It also included the design, build and operation of a fixed groundwater treatment system with the construction of the building housing the water treatment system.

To minimize the effects of noise, dust and traffic to our client and their neighbors, Tri-Phase implemented controls that included full site hoarding, by-law compliant operational hours, fulltime flagmen, air monitoring for PCBs and TSS during excavation as well as utilization of the company’s own expertise in hot, warm and cold zones (contamination control).

In order to control any groundwater infiltration or rainwater accumulation during excavation, we mobilized our on-site water treatment system.  Tri-Phase also instituted a loading system in order to prevent the spread of contamination during excavation. This system required all trucks be loaded in a sanitary area surrounded by polyethylene sheeting, ensuring that any spilled soil was captured.

Health and safety protocols were paramount during the execution of this project. All individuals working on the project were required to wear the most stringent of personal protective equipment and all areas that had been previously decontaminated were protected against re-contamination using polyethylene sheet barricades.

All water used during the cleaning operations was captured and treated on-site using Tri-Phase’s mobile water treatment system.  All disposal and discharge of the wastewater was completed by Tri-Phase. The project was completed on-time, within budget and to the client’s satisfaction.