Service: Geoscience
Smarter Decisions From the Ground Up
Smart land development starts below the surface
We deliver high-quality soil and water studies that go beyond the data, partnering with you to understand your goals and deliver value where it counts. Our expert analysis of soil, rock, and groundwater, helps you choose the right site, reduce risk, and design with confidence from day one. We have the technical depth that drives results and regulatory success.
How our geoscience services can benefit your project
Uncover risks early to build with confidence
We empower land development, ensure compliance, and uncover environmental risks, so you can build with confidence.
We take a site-specific approach, delivering tailored solutions not one-size-fits-all responses. We turn complex findings into clear, actionable insights.
Our geoscience studies help identify the best locations for development by analyzing soil, rock, and groundwater. Make data-driven decisions that minimize risk and optimize design from the start. We provide science-backed insights into subsurface conditions through field studies and desktop analysis.
Accurate geoscience data ensures projects meet environmental regulations. By uncovering subsurface risks early, we help avoid costly delays and streamline the permitting process.
From contamination to natural hazards, early detection of environmental risks helps you design safer, more resilient projects, and avoid costly surprises. We give developers a clear view of what lies beneath, before the first shovel hits the ground.
Better data leads to better decisions. Reduce overdesign, avoid delays, and keep your budget and schedule on point. With our expert team backing your project, you’re not just building for today—you’re building for long-term performance and peace of mind.
How we help
We deliver the expert services you need to develop, build, and maintain tenancy of land, with minimal compliance surprises.
Excess soil management
Regulations around excess soil are evolving. RWDI helps you assess soil quality, identify reuse options, and handle all required documentation with ease. Our deep regulatory expertise and proven process simplify compliance, reduce risk, and keep your projects moving.
Stay ahead of excess soil regulations with experts who know the ground.
Speak with a soil expertEnvironmental site assessments
Property owners and developers can face serious environmental risks below the surface. We provide comprehensive Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), often required for acquisitions, due diligence, or redevelopment, to identify liabilities before they become costly setbacks.
From greenfield developments to complex brownfield projects, our end-to-end support includes ESAs, remediation planning, monitoring, and Records of Site Condition. With deep technical and regulatory expertise, we help you navigate requirements smoothly and keep your project on track.
Speak with a site assessment expertEnvironmental compliance and monitoring
For businesses with complex operations, maintaining compliance and optimizing site performance requires rigorous testing, monitoring, and a clear understanding of regulatory pathways.
RWDI provides technical expertise and regulatory guidance to support permitting, approvals, and ongoing monitoring, from groundwater and surface water assessments to securing permits such as PTTWs, ECAs, and EASRs. Our professionals provide expert witness testimony and litigation support when needed, providing what you need to stay compliant and confident at every stage.
Speak with an environmental compliance expertFull-service water and groundwater solutions
A strong understanding of the subsurface is essential for securing Permits to Take Water (PTTW) and managing groundwater responsibly for development, infrastructure, and industrial projects. We assess site conditions, model water impacts, and prepare permit applications, helping you meet regulatory requirements quickly and efficiently.
Beyond permitting, services like groundwater monitoring, contaminant assessments, and mitigation planning, support ongoing compliance and protect surrounding environments. Our deep expertise in soil science, geology, hydrogeology, and geochemistry equips us to solve even the most complex, high-stakes challenges, confidently and efficiently.
Speak with an environmental compliance expertCentral 1 (C1) Section of HS2 Phase 1
Noise, vibration, and air quality services for high-speed rail infrastructure
Environmental Assessment of Landfill Expansion Project
Adopting advanced techniques for evolving tech and regulations
Regulatory Compliance and Approvals for Material Recycling Facilities
Evaluate waste reduction and recovery strategies and operations of material recycling facilities to comply with regulatory approvals.
Every assessment we carry out is overseen by a senior professional with experience in identifying unusual or complex issues, and our staff have both the credentials (P.Geo., P.Eng., Qualified Person) and the experience to engage effectively with regulators.
If an assessment identifies a problem, we can draw on a wide range of technical expertise from across RWDI to develop a mitigation strategy. For example, our experts in ventilation can advise on dealing with soil vapour intrusion. We excel in solving complex issues such as identifying contamination from multiple sources or devising remedial action plans to address multiple contaminants.
Yes, we support clients during litigation through investigative services, peer reviews, and providing expert witness testimony. We also help protect owners from possible future claims by investigating and documenting site conditions at specific points in time. We can conduct internal due diligence investigations to determine if past land use, contributes to potential environmental risk.
Ontario has been one of the leading provinces moving legislation forward regarding the management of on-site and excess soil. Ontario Regulation 406/19 describes the province’s new rules for beneficial reuse of excess soils, which includes assessment of past uses, development of sampling and analysis plans, soil characterization and reporting, as well as the tracking of soil movement.
Specifically related to O. Reg. 406/19, we can support your project’s excess soil requirements:
- Our Qualified Persons (QPs, as defined by O. Reg. 406/19), can assess the soil quality and provide the required source and/or destination site documentation.
- Assisting with identifying an appropriate reuse site in accordance with O. Reg. 406/19 and helping to streamline the registration and reporting requirements for those soils for transportation to the reuse site.
Phase One Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are used to determine whether the potential for an environmental concern exists at a site. This include a review of available historical documents for the site and surrounding properties, a thorough site reconnaissance to evaluate existing conditions, and interviews with knowledgeable site representatives and/or past owners.
Phase Two ESAs build on the results of a Phase One ESA to confirm or refute whether a concern exists at a site. They include sampling programs to assess soil and/or groundwater conditions within an area of concern noted within the property.
An EASR is required if you need to pump more than 50,000 L/day of water (combined groundwater, surface water or combination) and less than 400,000 L/day of groundwater from each independent area of influence at the construction Site (per the requirements of Ontario Regulation 63/16). A scientific study is required; however, the study need not be provided to the MECP for review.
Construction takings greater than 400,000 L/day (of groundwater), are not ‘short term’ in nature or that do not meet the Reg. 63/16 EASR criteria, would require an application for a PTTW which is to be supported by scientific study prepared by a Qualified Person (P. Geo. or experienced P. Eng.). The report is to comply with the requirements outlined within the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA) and Ontario Regulation 387/04.
RWDIs experts can assist in estimating the volume of water you may need to deal with as part of your project, completing any required scientific studies to support either an EASR or PTTW application, as well as assisting in monitoring and reporting on any dewatering activities to assist in complying with the requirements of your approval.
