WELCOME - Development of integrated management system (ims) for prevention and reduction of pollution of waterbodies at contaminated industrial areas

In Europe, large areas and regions exist with a high density of industry (e.g. sea ports, large scale chemical industry complexes, metal mining areas, military complexes, etc.). In these megasites, soil and groundwater are usually polluted with different classes of pollutants. Megasites thus represent steady and long-term potential sources of regional contamination of groundwater, surface water and sediments. Besides the threat to water quality, direct risks can be involved for ecosystems, human health, and for widespread diffuse pollution through contaminated sediment transport in rivers. The overall objective was to produce a tool that can help environmental managers in establishing an appropriate management approach for their megasites. Making use of extended scientific research work and experiences of the past decades, a practical and cost-efficient Integrated Management System (IMS) procedure was developed and tested at the three representative European megasites (Rotterdam/Antwerp, Bitterfeld and Katowice) cases, which will were validated and evaluated. A significant part of the project wais natural science based research, aimed at answering questions in support of developing megasite IMS approaches. The subjects involve risk assessment, compliance with the water framework directive, monitored natural attenuation, immobilisation and cost-efficiency assessment.