Problem

Cities in Flanders only have an advisory role in soil remediation on their territory, but they are the first party to be confronted with worried residents and neighbours. Gent is faced with a number of cases where chlorinated solvent pollution has an impact on a large area. Because in an urban environment, pollution causes anxiety and evokes questions with several parties such as residents, owners, committees of neighbours and local authorities CityChlor wants to study this communication process.

Location

The pilot site is situated in a densely populated area near the city centre of Gent (Ghent) where a former laundry and dry cleaner caused a widespread contamination with chlorinated solvents. The activities started in 1957 and in 2010 the activities were ended on this location. In 2000 the first soil and groundwater surveys started and these were repeated and went more descriptive until now in 2011 a remediation strategy is proposed but all details in the approach are still not certain. Lab tests have been carried out and demonstrate a reduction of the chlorinated solvents by adding a carbon source and microbacteria. Further investigation needs to be carried out to test the technique on pilot scale in the field.

This time consuming and uncertain process is typical for contaminations with chlorinated solvents. The SMART-principle of communicating with the inhabitants is therefore difficult to realise. Untill all investigations are done it is difficult to give a Specific message. Because the results of the soil investigations can result in several options it is hard to set Measurable goals from the start. Because the remediation plan is often only clear after several years it is impossible to describe a solution that will be Attainable. Because it is however important to not leave the inhabitants for a long time without any information sometimes non-Relevant information is given just to keep in touch. And last but not least the Time-bound is the most uncertain aspect of soil- and groundwater remediation in case of chlorinated solvents. As long as the core of the pollution isn’t found the remediation cannot start, and possible solutions have to be tested in the lab to see if it will have a result on the field….

Aim

By means of a thorough study the University of Ghent will look into this communication process. The first two steps, the desk study on previous research and the questionnaire with key players at the site are finalised. The literature studied for this pilot test can be consulted below. In January the OVAM has communicated in the same way as was done in all other remediation projects. In autumn a first question round will start: about 700 inhabitants will receive the questionnaire. They will be able to give their concerns and the ways they like us to communicate with them. During the remediation this will be repeated to see what the influence of the communication (and remediation) is on the inhabitants and what can be done better in future projects. The methodology will be part of our project and can be tested also in other pilot sites in France, Netherlands and Germany. This will give even a more accurate answer on communication and risk perception in remediation projects.

Planning

Period: date - date
Desk study: date
Questionnaire: date

Results

• expected in September 2012

Factsheet