Soil research
Soil Research and Soil Remediation never sleep, including this year.
- The first steps were taken to sanitise the soil at the heavily polluted site of Fort Filips. In the past, this location had been heavily polluted through the illegal dumping of waste. An impenetrable wall was placed around the heaviest concentrations of pollution in 2020, which will prevent any further spread in the future. The surrounding polluted earth was dug up further and transported away to an earth cleaner. The further reorganisation of the entire area around Fort Filips into a safe and natural habitat will continue in 2021.
- At the former GM site, where there is both fuel/solvent pollution and PFOS pollution, OVAM and Port of Antwerp-Bruges began the collective soil sanitation in September 2020. The Port Authority is obliged to sanitise fuel pollution; it has been given the status of innocent owner for PFOS pollution. Given that both types of pollution are so intertwined, the decision was taken to combine these along with OVAM.
- The polluted earth will be dug up and transported away to an earth cleaner. After cleaning, the earth will be brought back to the site.