Large scale projects under the administrative agreement | Umweltbundesamt

Brief descriptions of large scale projects being jointly executed by the federal government and regional-state governments

Berlin

Location: This project involves a nearly completely abandoned 35 square kilometer industrial area on the Spree river in southeast Berlin.

Historical background: Beginning with dawn of industrialization, in 1870, and until very recently, this area was one of the regional state of Berlin’s largest industrial regions. It attracted chemical and pharmaceutical companies, power companies, metallurgy and metalworking plants, electronics companies, engine manufacturers, and automakers. Many of East Germany’s major industrial concerns had to close down following reunification.

Hazard status: This entire industrial area is located in drinking water protection zone III, in the direct catchment area of three water treatment plants. A broad range of contaminants – the main ones being volatile halogenoalkanes, petroleum hydrocarbons, BTEX, phenols, cyanide, and heavy metals – causes local soil contamination and large scale groundwater contamination in the transfer zones to water purification plants.

Further information is available from Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt.

The regional state of Brandenburg

PCK Schwedt

Location: This large scale project is located in Uckermark, in northeast Brandenburg, near the Oder river.

Historical background: Beginning in 1964, this 940 hectare area was the flagship site of the petrochemical conglomerate Schwedt. The company made petrochemical products at the site, as well as petroleum based fertilizers, and later briefly manufactured animal feed yeast there. Production waste was deposited at proprietary and non-proprietary sites on the company’s campus and in the surrounding area.

Hazard status: Three drinking water protection areas are located in the environs of the site, which exhibits high levels of soil contamination and extensive groundwater contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons, BTEX, naphthalene, heavy metals, ammonium salts and nitrate.

Further information is available from Landesamt für Umwelt des Landes Brandenburg.

Oranienburg

Location: This large scale project encompasses numerous sites in the Oberhavel district that fall within the scope of the Oranienburg, Velten, Hennigsdorf nad Birkenwerder / Hohen Neuendorf satellite projects. Most of the sites are located in receiving water courses (Havel river, branch junction canals) and in the catchment areas of water purification plants.

Historical background: The area is one of eastern Germany’s oldest industrial regions; it was at one time home to myriad industrial activities, including foundries, arms manufacturers, industrial-machinery plants, chemical factories, construction companies, wood processing plants, pharmaceutical companies, and food processing plants. The area was heavily bombarded during World War II.

Hazard status: Most of the sites are located in the drinking water protection zones of two major water purification plants. Many of the former companies had their own water supply facilities, some of which are still in operation. Extensive soil and groundwater pollution, as well as local contamination, have been detected, mainly from petroleum hydrocarbons, BTEX, chlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenols. The aquifers located in the project area are threatened by contaminant inputs.

Further information is available from Landesamt für Umwelt des Landes Brandenburg.

BASF Schwarzheide

Location: This large scale project, which extends over a 230 hectare area, is located in the southeastern portion of the regional state of Brandenburg,

Historical background: Initially, petroleum products were made from brown coal; later on, petroleum was refined and herbicides were manufactured at the site.

Hazard status: High levels of soil and groundwater contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons, phenol, BTEX, chlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. High hazard level owing to a proprietary pond waste dump.

Further information is available from Landesamt für Umwelt des Landes Brandenburg.

Brandenburg an der Havel

Location: This large project originally encompassed 94 sites with a total surface area of 7.8 square kilometers, located both within the city limits and on the city’s outskirts, mainly in the environs of lakes and canals.

Historical background: Industrial activities began here over a century ago, when metallurgy, metalworking and arms factories opened, along with energy and gas utilities, and construction, transport, chemical and light-industry facilities. Brandenburg an der Havel was an important metallurgy centre in the former East Germany.

Hazard status: The area contains a large scale water treatment plant and a number of smaller ones, along with their drinking water abstraction zones. Most of the groundwater that is abstracted for drinking water stems from bank filtrate.
The scope of contamination varies greatly from one site to another. The main industrial contaminants are volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, BTEX, petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol and heavy metals, all of which have mainly caused local soil and groundwater contamination.

Further information is available from Landesamt für Umwelt des Landes Brandenburg.