Project manager: Ivans Semjonovs, phone +371 67214255

ACTUAL PROJECTS


Rehabilitation of polluted groundwaters in the territory of State Joint Stock Company Latvijas dzelzceļš subsidiary company LDz ritošā sastāva serviss Ltd.

Project foresees expluatation of all four pollution rehabilitation systems to dealt the layer of oil products which floats over groundwaters in this territory.
It is planned that 50 to 60 cubic meters conditionally clean oil products will be pumped.

Development of project documentation to ensure that Special economical area of Liepaja is incorporated in the finance planning period 2007 – 2013 activity “Rehabilitation of historically polluted sites” 2^nd round

Object of the project is historically polluted place – the Liepaja Karosta Channel. There are made few pollution researches from 1993 to 2006. Results show that ground of Channel is polluted and toxic.
Rehabilitation project foresees pollution liquidation in the Channel. It is also planned to actualize rehabilitation technologies and make comparative analysis of technical alternatives.

FINISHED PROJECTS

What is a "polluted site"?
According to the definition given by law, under "Pollution”: “a polluted site is: soil, subsurface areas, water, mud, as well as buildings, industrial objects or other objects containing contaminating substances”. So that these “polluted places” do not endanger the environment, including both our own health and our children's health and lives, it is necessary to rehabilitate these places or to put it in simple words, purifiy and recover.

There are many polluted sites in Latvia, however, rehabilitation of each one would cost a great amount of money. Because of the lack of financial resources it is not possible to clense all these polluted places, however, it is not even necessary to do this as not all of these polluted places are dangerous to the environment or to human health. It also should be taken into account that in some cases these polluted areas are capable of self-purification when left in the natural environment.

As mentioned above, a classification system can be made – in order to identify places where

• pollution is not dangerous and environmental measures are not needed,
• only monitoring of the pollution is necessary,
• additional research is required,
• rehabilitation has to be carried out,

it is essential to create a data base of polluted places.

Notwithstanding the fact that the sequence of the above is logical and obvious, in some cases a situation was so critical that practical measures to rehabilitate a polluted place were taken even before the creation of the data base.

Data Base of Polluted Places

In 2004 the creation of a data base was entrusted to “Environmental Projects” Ltd. The Data base was created in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and municipalities. Although it should be noted that 23% of municipalities did not consider it as their duty to submit information according to requirements stated in the Latvian legislation regarding polluted places within their territories. During the establishment of the data base, there were also funny situations. For example, one of the municipalities sent a letter saying that the deputies in the local council meeting have unanimously voted to say that they do not have polluted places in their territory.

At the moment the data basis contains more than 3000 polluted and potentially polluted objects (sites). Every object, when added to the data base, is allocated a certain amount of points according to a specially developed methodology. Using this methodology polluted sites where divided into the four previously mentioned categories. The greater the amount of points, the more dangerous the place is, and so the sooner it needs to be rehabilitated. By using information acquired from the database, the priorities of rehabilitation were identified, and, in order to attract funding from the EU funds, they were included in the Operational Program of the Ministry of the Environment for the planning period of 2007-2013.
We are giving an insight into the most dangerous polluted places. To improve the existing situation there, “Environmental Projects” Ltd. is preparing documentation for different EU funds in order to receive financial support.

Goudron ponds in Incukalns

One of the most dangerous polluted sites in Latvia is located in the Incukalns parish, 30-35 km East from Riga, in former some sandpits. Now they are called the Northern and Southern ponds of Incukalns.

During the 1950s to 1980s the Riga Oil Processing and Lube Oil Factory dumped up to 16 tons of sulphuric goudron yearly a by product formed in the process of producing medical and perfumery oils. Until the beginning of 70s the Northern pit was used, later on the Southern pit was used as well. The Waste was dumped straight into the sandpits without insulating either the base or the sides.
Goudron ponds of Incukalns are located within the subterrainian water feeding areas and endangers the place where Riga city takes its drinking water, namely Rembergi, and also migrates in the direction of the Gauja river.

This is one of the most dangerous polluted objects in Latvia. The utilization and rehabilitation processes of the goudron must be done with great caution so the natural barrier that has formed is not damaged (the lower layer of goudron has transformed in substance similar to asphalt) which would greatly increase the spread of the pollution. By Soviet times these places were subjected to periodical environmental status control but a regular rehabilitation process has not yet been carried out.

In 2004 the Ministry of the Environment announced a contest for the rights to develop a rehabilitation plan for the dumps both in Incukalns and Olaine. “Environmental Projects” Ltd. won in the contest. According to the operational task 3 different alternative technologies of possible rehabilitation had to be developed.

After conducting research of the situation it was concluded that the goudron pond in Incukalns has three different layers and for each layer a different rehabilitation is needed, as physical-chemical characteristics of the layers are different. As a result, instead of developing 3 different versions, we had to develop 9 different versions of the rehabilitation plan.
If rehabilitation is not carried out, the Gauja is under a serious threat. Pollution might get into the river and then into the Baltic Sea, which threatens the accomplishments of our international commitment at the EU level. Furthermore, this pollution substantially affects our drinking water resources, as this is where underground water sources are supplied.

Liquid toxic waste dump in Olaine

The Olaine liquid toxic waste dump is located about 4 km North of Olaine. During the period from 1973 to 1980 the ponds contained liquid, paste and solid waste from the factories “Latbiofarm” and “Biolar” (in some years up to 16000t per year were dumped there), mainly ammonium chloride, pyridine, butanol, isopropanol, sodium acetate and many other substances.
The content of the waste changed depending on the products produced, but the production changed almost every month according to the needs of the USSR. Sometimes defective goods from the chemical industry and chemical waste from production enterprises in Riga were also dumped in the ponds. Both of these factories in Olaine carried out extensive experimental work program, for example, producing medical products for astronauts.

Many other chemical compounds and substances along with ingredients mentioned above were dumped in the pond at the same time, although in smaller amounts. As a result of chemical reactions, other substances have formed, chemical composition and characteristics of which are difficult to determine or predict.

In the Olaine regional development plan the territory between the toxic waste dump and Jaunolaine village, known as “Martinlauki”, is intended for individual buildings, although because of the high pollution level of the groundwater unfortunately it is not suitable for its intended economic activities.

Since 1978, a monitoring of groundwater pollution in the Olaine toxic waste dump has been carried out. In 2000 on the basis of research and monitoring conducted on the site a computer model of the pollution was created. According to this model it has been predicted that the polluted groundwater will be migrating towards a East-South East direction. This means if the rehabilitation is not carried out, Jaunolaine village and Northern part of Olaine town is potentially threatened. The migration of pollution is also predicted also downwards into the subterrainin water, which could take place during the next 23 years. Thus if the rehabilitation is not performed, our reserves of drinking water are under threat.

At the moment “Environmental Projects” is preparing a project proposal in order to receive funding from the EU Cohesion Fund for the rehabilitation of Olaine toxic waste dumb.

Rumbula Airfield

During Soviet times Rumbula Airfield was both a military and civil, and a military airfield. At that time it was managed very carelessly. There were not only airplanes in the airfield, but also an enormous amount of aviation fuel containers containing kerosene. During their filtration through the underlaying sand, oil products reached the groundwater and formed a floating layer of oil products there. The Existing pollution of the airfield is very large.

At the moment pollution at Rumbula Airfield has been localized in 5 places or areas. Pollution is in three stages: in the soil (absorption), on the surface of the groundwater (floating) and a dissolving stage. It is very dangerous because this groundwater may get into Daugava and then to the Baltic Sea. Rumbula is very close to the Gulf of Riga. If the water, which contains these hazardous substances, reaches the Baltic Sea, punishment sanctions will be imposed on Latvia if it exceeds the accepted levels of pollution.

Since 2003, "Environmental Projects" Ltd. in cooperation with "Venteko" Ltd carries out rehabilitation work in the two largest areas. Danish EPA technical assistance (about 5.5 million DKK), as well as the yearly co-funding of Latvian Environmental Protection Fund Administration and the Riga Council was used to start rehabilitation work.

The Floating pure oil product layer is pumped out to prevent the pollution reaching the Daugava. The Pumping system was set up – drillholes were made, pumps,and purification equipment for the emulsion were put in. the Oil is pumped out with water. During the pumping process an emulsion forms from the oil products and water, the purification equipment settles it down. The Oil is burnt. The Water is enriched with nutrients and oxygen after settling it down and then put back into groundwater. This purification process is done continuously; it must not be stopped. As soon as the process stops, pollution begins again to flow towards the Daugava.

According to the Riga city development plan the former territory of Rumbula Airfield is intended for the construction of one-two story houses, which means that carrying out a full value rehabilitation work of this territory is an environmental priority of the Riga council. A large financial investment is needed for performing a full rehabilitation of the territory. Therefore preparation work is being accomplished to attract funding from the EU funds.