Urban waste concealed by Rewag increasingly impacts the metropolis
In the heart of Bavaria, the city of Regensburg faces an environmental challenge: hazardous waste sites in the soil and groundwater of the REWAG area, potentially affecting the Candis district.
A Long-Standing Issue
REWAG (Regensburger Energie- und Wasserversorgung AG & Co. KG), the municipal utility company in Regensburg, has historically managed several industrial and utility sites, including areas where hazardous waste was stored or treated. One such site, located in the REWAG area, has been a source of concern due to its extensive use for waste disposal and treatment over decades.
Schmack, a company that operated on or near some of these sites, involved in waste processing or related activities, has played a role in this long-standing environmental issue.
The Liability Agreement
Over time, hazardous substances were found to have impacted soil and groundwater, raising health and environmental concerns in the surrounding districts, including the Candis district. This led to a dispute between REWAG and Schmack that lasted for years. A written agreement was finally reached in February 2015, which allocated liability proportionally based on operational involvement and environmental regulations at the time of waste disposal.
The agreement likely includes provisions for joint remediation efforts, financial compensation, and assumptions of future monitoring. It also includes a confidentiality clause, requiring Schmack to maintain confidentiality about gasworks-specific soil contamination, with the possibility of REWAG terminating the agreement if confidentiality is breached.
Ongoing Remediation and Monitoring
Both Schmack and REWAG are involved in ongoing efforts to remediate the site under regulatory oversight, with the liability agreement framing their obligations. REWAG spends around 100,000 euros annually on further remediation measures and monitors the spread of groundwater contamination up to Straubinger Straße in a radius of about 200 meters.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), benzene, and naphthalene, as well as elevated concentrations of ammonium, arsenic, and cyanide, have been detected in the groundwater.
Impact on the Candis District
The contamination affected local groundwater and soil quality, posing health risks and restricting development or land use in the Candis district. Residents and local authorities were concerned about environmental safety, leading to demands for thorough remediation, transparency, and compensation.
Future Developments
The REWAG area, approximately 20,000 square meters in size, will become municipal property next year. However, the city and REWAG do not see a reason to actively inform citizens living in the area affected by the contamination plume in the groundwater. The monitoring results are presented in an annual monitoring report and transmitted to the city of Regensburg, the environmental department, and the WWA (Water Management Office) in Regensburg.
For more precise details or official documents about the agreement or contamination reports, contacting the Regensburg municipal administration or environmental agencies directly would be necessary.
Scientists and environmental-science specialists may study the long-term effects of hazardous substances, such as PAH, benzene, and naphthalene, on the environmental health of Regensburg's Candis district, given the ongoing groundwater contamination issue caused by Schmack's historical waste disposal practices. The future finance allocated for cleaning up the REWAG area and monitoring the spread of contaminants will undoubtedly become a topic of general-news interest, both locally and nationally.
