Iron pollution in the Spree: LMBV fights for clean water!

Iron pollution in the Spree: LMBV fights for clean water!

A explosive location for the Spree and its surroundings: The Lausitzer and Central German Mining Administrative Society (LMBV) has ambitious plans to drastically reduce the iron load in the Spree. This initiative aims to lower the iron values ​​to zero. For more than a decade, the water quality at Spremberg has remained massively impaired by iron hydroxide, and visible in the brown discoloration of the water. As rbb24 , a renovation of the water treatment facilities in Vetschau is already in full, while still iron-bearing mud from the Spree is pumped.

But where does all the iron come from? Originally, the brown coal mining is responsible for this, which lowered the groundwater level and brought in with oxygen iron sulfide. This has led to a questionable discharge of the water. Current measuring points in the Spreewald biosphere reserve show that the discoloration of the water is not only an aesthetic but also a serious ecological problem. The process of discharge, which is considered the late consequence of lignite mining, means that up to 40 mg/l iron in the affected waters have been demonstrated. Already 2-3 mg/l can jeopardize the brood of fish, according to a report by Greenpeace .

renovation measures and their urgency

The LMBV has already made considerable efforts to improve water quality. So far, numerous water treatment plants have been put into operation in southern Spremberg since 2013, which filter about half of the mud from the Spree. In the past ten years, 500,000 tons of iron hydroxide mud have been removed. But that's not all: Currently, the LMBV is thinking about the construction of a specialized monodeponia for these residues in costbrau in order to cope with the disposal of the sludge in the long term, as euwid documented.

The current renovation is necessary because the existing systems are getting on after twelve years and urgently needs an update. A floating excavator is used to pump the mud that pumps the mud into large geotubes. These must then be disposed of. The measures are expensive; So far, over 110 million euros have been invested in combating iron hydroxide. The LMBV hopes that cleaning in Vetschau can be completed by 2050, while Spremberg may need up to 100 years.

ecological consequences and outlook

The environmentalists are concerned: the brown mud that spreads in the rivers could massively damage the ecosystem of the Spreewald and also endanger tourism. Although the process of dilapping can only be observed in the upper runs of the flow, the spread offers a foretaste of the upcoming challenges. Heavy rain and flood events in recent years have further exacerbated the situation by increasing groundwater formation so that iron -containing water is pushed into the rivers.

The challenges that leaves lignite mining should not be underestimated. While the LMBV is actively working on solutions, it remains to be seen how the development of the water quality in the Spree will run and what other measures are necessary to preserve the intact nature of the Spreewald.