Overview
ISO 15175:2018 - Soil quality: Characterization of contaminated soil related to groundwater protection provides guidance on principles and main methods for evaluating soils and sites in relation to their potential to contaminate groundwater. The standard is focused on contaminated land management and describes monitoring strategies, sampling methods, soil processes and analytical approaches to assess soil functions in retaining, releasing and transforming contaminants.
Key points:
- Second edition (2018) replaces ISO 15175:2004 and introduces a tiered assessment approach.
- The document is guidance (no normative references) and is intended to support risk assessment and remediation decision-making related to groundwater protection.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Tiered assessment framework - progressive levels of investigation:
- Tier 1: Simple, qualitative screening (site/soil description and potential leaching risk).
- Tier 2: Intermediate assessment including systematic sampling and characterization of soil, pore water and soil gas; physical and chemical parameter measurement; impact assessment (e.g., soil-water concentrations, transferable mass, degradation).
- Tier 3: Complex assessment incorporating biological, isotopic and geophysical parameters and advanced methods.
- Assessment of inputs to groundwater - evaluation of direct and indirect contamination pathways, including percolation, vapour migration and non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL/DNAPL).
- Soil processes - emphasis on mechanical, chemical (sorption/mobilization) and transformation (degradation) functions.
- Sampling and analytical considerations - guidance on relevant physical, chemical and biological parameters, soil gas monitoring and laboratory analyses.
- Impact assessment methods - approaches for estimating substance concentration in soil water, amount transferable to groundwater and degradation rates.
- Quality and uncertainty - sensitivity/uncertainty analysis, data handling and data quality control.
Practical Applications and Users
Who uses ISO 15175:
- Environmental consultants and remediation specialists
- Hydrogeologists and groundwater protection authorities
- Site managers, brownfield developers and regulators
- Environmental laboratories and testing facilities
Practical uses:
- Designing site investigation programs to evaluate leaching risk and contaminant transport to aquifers
- Choosing appropriate sampling and monitoring strategies (soil, pore water, soil gas)
- Prioritizing remediation options and demonstrating groundwater protection measures
- Supporting risk assessment, permitting and compliance documentation
Related Standards (context)
- ISO 11074 (soil terminology/characterization)
- ISO 5667 series (water and groundwater sampling)
- Other ISO soil and environmental quality standards for analytical methods and terminology
Keywords: ISO 15175, soil quality, contaminated soil, groundwater protection, soil characterization, leaching risk, sampling methods, soil gas, LNAPL, DNAPL, contaminated land management.
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