Initial situation

The Schwarze Pumpe site, with an area of 270 hectares, is one of the largest lignite upgrading sites of the former GDR (German Democratic Republic). It is here that, until the end of the eighties, an important part of eastern Germany's electrical generating capacity and the greatest part of its gas production were concentrated. It was here that many innovative coal upgrading and chemical industry processes were first implemented on a commercial scale. The intensity with which the area was used, and the high level of soil contamination in the spring area caused an effluent plume in the ground water.

Approach

A soil and groundwater rehabilitation concept for whole area was developed based on the results of monitoring backed up by groundwater flow and contaminant modelling. Areas where contaminants were formerly introduced, and where there are concentrations of contaminants in the upper soil were investigated with a view to the local environmental conditions on the basis of a number of risk assessments and rehabilitation tests.
The rehabilitation concept mainly involves active hydraulic measures which include operating the retention wells and groundwater treatment plant with onsite infiltration elements.
Additional important items are activities to reduce flows from the source springs, soil removal, and in-situ washing, all of which have already been successfully tested on the site.

Result

In the past few years the Schwarze Pumpe site has changed from being a coalupgrading and energy site to an industrial park designed to meet a range of requirements. The very effective, and still continuing, groundwater rehabilitation process has not negatively affected the settlement of investors.
Today it is the home of one of the world's most modern lignite-fuelled power stations. This power station, which has been awarded a prize for its design, uses the latest technology to achieves a high level of efficiency. In addition, a paper and corrugated cardboard factory employing a workforce of over 300 has been built on the site.