ERM

Project Description

Problem/Situation:

Staff of a Brisbane service station and nearby commercial premises could smell leaking hydrocarbons for six years, with no solution. When a fuel line leaks underground it creates a ‘flume’ (a balloon of hydrocarbons). If the plume finds a pathway it will run down to the water table and hydrocarbon smells can permeate the air.

Process:

Using CCTV cameras, IRT located storm water lines on the premises. It was discovered that storm water drains were disconnected years ago upstream but never plugged off. We found that hydrocarbons were flowing into the 1800mm main drain and in turn were flowing into the storm water drain and into air conditioning lines, causing the smell to come through the air conditioning.

Solution:

We excavated a 1.4 metre hole on a vacant lot and broke into the line and sealed the line to stop leakage.