The site intended for the rotating coal storage unit was used by the US Army as a fuel shipment and storage center. The lower soil levels and the ground water on the site are consequently polluted in varying degrees by petroleum carbons (gas).

 

On acquiring the site, E.ON Kraftwerke undertook to carry out the necessary rehabilitation of the ground water. The rehabilitation will take about six years and cost around two million Euros. The rehabilitation work started in November 2007.

 

Rehabilitation processes

 

The rehabilitation process used is a combination of biological and physical purification of the ground water: so-called airsparging.

 

The first step is to blow air into the polluted soil by means of deep wells. This stimulates micro-organisms to attack the pollutants contained in the ground water. The pollutants that are separated out are then extracted from the soil by means of shallow wells and removed by up to 100 percent through the use of activated carbon filters.

 

A total of 60 deep wells and 36 extraction wells are being installed. The rehabilitation progress is monitored by means of 14 ground water test points.