Short overview

Land contamination

Denmark has an excellent overview of land contamination. The Danish authorities have placed a high priority on the environment since the 1980s, and are committed to minimising the consequences of the practices of the past.

But even as we work to remove or neutralise pollutants, the sheer scale of the contamination means we will need to continue our efforts for many years to come.

 The greatest source of land contamination in Denmark derives from the disposal of toxic waste.

Most of this waste is buried, spilled or spread over the ground, but leaking tanks and faulty sewers have also led to contamination.

This contamination was a result of people’s ignorance and the reckless use of chemicals in the home and in the corporate world.

 The Danish Ministry of the Environment and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency have laid down guidelines for land contamination, via the Contaminated Land Law, 2000 (Lov om Forurenet jord) and subsequent amendments, etc.

In practical terms, the Danish Ministry of the Environment works with the Danish Regions, local municipalities, consultants and developers, to tackle the enormous challenge posed by land contamination.

The following text describes Central Denmark Region’s involvement in the challenge:

Mapping of potential contamination

Central Denmark Region is currently mapping potentially contaminated areas. That is, areas where potentially contaminating activities are occurring or have occurred.

The task involves compiling addresses and the activities that have taken place at those addresses. Frequently, local historians and people who have knowledge of the area provide important information. Central Denmark Region assesses the information and decides whether the location should be described as potentially contaminated.

The region expects to have completed the mapping process by 2011.

Preliminary investigations

Central Denmark Region investigates properties that are mapped as potentially contaminated and which may pose a threat to the groundwater or the area’s use. The properties have typically been used for industrial purposes or as oil or chemical storage facilities.

The preliminary investigation involves the region identifying the sources of potential contamination and testing any remnants.

The region’s employees carry out about half of the investigations using their own drilling rig, while private engineering consultants carry out the remaining investigations.

Central Denmark Region expects to carry out around 5,000 preliminary investigations over the next 30–50 years. On average, 125 preliminary investigations per year.

Larger investigations and prevention projects

Central Denmark Region carries out further investigations if there is a risk that the contamination can harm people or the environment.

These investigations result in a risk assessment. The region carries out preventative measures, if it assesses the contamination can affect the groundwater or that it is a hazard to nearby residents, children’s institutions, etc.

The region selects the optimal solution in relation to technical, environmental, health and economic considerations and submits a project for tender.

This is carried out in close cooperation with an engineering consultancy.

Central Denmark Region expects to undertake 1,000 clean-up operations in the next 50 years.

Operation and monitoring

Central Denmark Region monitors contaminated sites and manages the technical operations at these sites. Typically, these are waste dumps, and large industrial sites.

A large part of the monitoring is done remotely, with periodic test sampling and verification, using drains, pumps, measurement stations, etc.

As the mapping and investigation process continues, the number of sites that require testing and monitoring continues to grow on a regular basis, and will continue to grow in the future.

On the other hand, Central Denmark Region can terminate the monitoring of sites where they have successfully removed or neutralised contamination.

Cooperation between Central Denmark Region and the municipalities

Central Denmark Region and the 19 municipalities work closely together to solve tasks involving the contamination of groundwater and land. Each municipality has one or two regional employees assigned to it, with specialist knowledge in these areas.

Shared theme meetings are held between representatives of all of the municipalities and the region. This ensures know-how is effectively shared.

Central Denmark Region constantly maintains and improves its cooperation with the municipalities.