Remediation of historical environmental contamination

Remediation of a historical environmental burden in an area contaminated by past wood impregnation near the Česká Lípa - South, Srní drinking water source.

Client: private client

Country: Czech Republic

Implementation period: 5/2019 - 8/2023

Completion date: August 2023

Contract value: 935,000 €

More about the project

We ensured the removal of historical contamination caused by the impregnation of wood (mainly railway sleepers) with creosote oil and water-soluble inorganic salts during the 20th century.

The main contaminants included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum substances (C10-C40), and heavy metals (Hg, Zn). The estimated contamination reached up to 300 tons of PAHs and 400 tons of petroleum substances in the unsaturated zone. The primary risk was the further spread of contaminants from the unsaturated zone into groundwater, which serves as a drinking water source for local residents and the town of Česká Lípa. The entire area is located within a groundwater protection zone.

We provided

Remediation of contaminated soil (total volume 20,880 m³) – removal of PAHs and petroleum substances through on-site co-composting.
Remediation of contaminated rock mass – removal of PAHs and petroleum substances using ISCO (Fenton’s reagent).
Remediation of contaminated groundwater – removal of PAHs through pumping and photo-oxidation treatment.