Site Assessment of Former Food Tiger Grocery Store

Partridge, Smith PC
Site Assessment of Former Food Tiger Grocery Store

In February 2011, McFadden Engineering was retained by Partridge, Smith PC to assess a former Food Tiger grocery store site in midtown Mobile, Alabama. The previous uses of surrounding properties for dry cleaning activities led to the investigation for potential contaminants on the subject property. Three soil borings were advanced to a depth of 40’ below land surface. Each boring was logged for lithology and noticeable odors. Following completion, a permanent groundwater monitoring well was installed in each soil boring. Two of the monitoring well locations were selected to confirm or deny the presence of volatile organic compounds previously detected by others at the site while the third well location was selected to determine groundwater flow direction.

Each monitoring well location was surveyed for location and height. Static water levels in the wells were measured with an electronic water level indicator to determine groundwater flow direction. Groundwater samples were collected from each well and submitted for laboratory analysis of volatile organics that might be associated with the dry cleaning facility previously located adjacent to the site. Four organic compounds were detected, however, each compound was detected at a level below the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Screening Values for drinking water. Although the presence of these compounds was confirmed in groundwater, they were detected at concentrations that were below action levels. As a result of this investigation, development was able to proceed allowing the property to be redeveloped into a social-services building for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile.