Scientist: Cleanup standards for contaminated sites in Czechia are set individually for each location

Czechia has no uniform standards for cleaning up contaminated sites — each case is assessed individually, depending on the concentration of pollutants, and the local geology and hydrogeology. This was explained by an expert on contaminated land, commenting on the discovery of toxic waste in the Šumava National Park.

According to the specialist, such polluted sites are scattered across the whole of Czechia and are typically found in large cities or on the grounds of former industrial zones. He was unable to compare them with the site at Dobrá Voda in Šumava due to a lack of data.

How the danger of contamination is assessed

"From what has been reported in the media about the pollutants, I only have a general picture. But you need to know their concentration, the geological and hydrogeological situation at the site, and whether the contamination is capable of spreading further," the expert explained. According to him, if a site is enclosed and isolated, the problem can be tackled less urgently than in a case where the contamination risks spreading beyond the area.

These criteria, together with other factors, form the basis of the risk analysis, which determines which pollutants must be cleaned up and by what method.

What was found in Šumava

Environment Minister Igor Červený (Motoristé party) announced on Tuesday that a survey of the former military site of Dobrá Voda in the Šumava National Park uncovered around 1,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and 200 barrels of hazardous chemicals. Among the substances found were dioxins, furans, mercury, arsenic and chlorinated solvents.

According to the ministry, the site remediation is due to begin at the end of September and will continue until June 2028. Early next week, the ministry plans to inform representatives of the affected Šumava municipalities about the method that will be used to neutralize the toxic substances.

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Source: ekolist.cz