Hydrosphere Technologies conducts professional site evaluations to assess the potential environmental liabilities associated with real property acquisition and ownership. This information can greatly impact the economics of a property transaction, affecting the owner, buyer, seller and lender. Environmental Site Assessments are typically separated into Phase I (non-intrusive) and Phase II (intrusive) evaluations that are conducted to CSA standards in Canada and ASTM standards in the United States.

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a report prepared for a real estate holding which identifies specific environmental contamination liabilities. The analysis typically addresses both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property; however, techniques applied in a Phase I ESA never include actual collection of physical samples or chemical analyses of any kind. Scrutiny of the land includes examination of potential soil contamination, groundwater quality, surface water quality and sometimes issues related to toxic uptake by biota. The examination of a site may include: definition of any chemical residues within structures; identification of possible asbestos containing building materials; inventory of toxic substances stored or used on site; assessment of mold and mildew; and evaluation of other indoor air quality parameters.

Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is an investigation which collects original samples of soil, groundwater or building materials to analyze for quantitative values of various contaminants. This investigation is normally undertaken when a Phase I ESA determines a likelihood of site contamination. The most frequent substances tested are petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, asbestos and mold.