Introduction
The most economical offer. This was the basis on which BioSoil won the Tennet tender for an in situ remediation operation in the Krimpenerwaard at the end of 2004. The project has meanwhile been completed with a final declaration from the authorities.

Bart Rotte
Tennet-employee Bart Rotte was responsible for the remediation of the site, an electricity distribution centre near Krimpen aan de IJssel. He explains the origin of the contamination and why he is so satisfied with the collaboration with BioSoil.

Fire
“Thursday 1 July 2004. I have a vivid recollection of that day. After a merger, we had acquired supervision of the electricity distribution centre only one day earlier. Then a fierce fire broke out in one of the transformers. A transformer contains a lot of combustible transformer oil for cooling and for insulation. This one contained some 80,000 litres. To prevent environmental contamination every transformer is equipped with a large catch pit underneath. During the fire, a large part of the oil leaked into the catch pit but it overflowed because of the large amounts of water used to extinguish the fire. Thus quite a lot of oil, which was floating on the water, leaked into the peaty soil of the Krimpenerwaard and into a ditch next to the location.

Immediate start
Tennet feels very strongly about the environment, so we started cleaning up the site right away. In the weeks immediately after the fire, the Arnicon-Ecoloss company cleaned the contaminated surface at the site and in the ditch. However, the oil had also penetrated into the deeper subsoil. For the remediation of that part of the soil we invited a number of suitable parties to submit an offer.

Selection
Tennet always selects is suppliers based on the most economical offer. So in this case we selected the BioSoil offer. The guaranteed results were particularly appealing; that provides security. Right from the start you know exactly how much money you will have to pay and what you can expect in return. Moreover, it indicates that the contractor trusts his own approach; otherwise he would not offer such a guarantee.

Remediation not easy
The remediation of a location like this is not easy. There are quite a number of 50kV high voltage wires in the soil; obviously these are sacred to us. But quite a number of borings had to be made to install the remediation system and the filters. So, at the beginning we were worried whether it would be all right. We need not have done that.

Flexible and pragmatic
BioSoil started right away. They worked meticulously and always in good consultation with us and with the authorities. All difficulties and unexpected events were solved flexibly and pragmatically. If things could not be done one way, they always had an alternative.

Good system
During the remediation operation BioSoil discovered another contamination. Initially we could hardly believe our ears, but eventually we managed to find the origin. It appeared that in the distant past a barrel of oil had fallen over. Thanks to the flexibility of the BioSoil remediation system the remediation of this contamination did not lead to much extra expense.

Hire again tomorrow
It is easy to find additional examples of the creativity, the knowledge and the practical experience of BioSoil bringing relief. So I have nothing but praise for the approach of and the collaboration with BioSoil. From beginning to end I really had the feeling: these people go for it! Anything was open to discussion; they would do anything to resolve a problem. All the employees were decent and considerate. Truly, from top to bottom: everyone did what he promised. I would hire them again tomorrow.”