1. Introduction
1.1 General site description
The town of Novy Bydzov is located in Eastern Bohemia in the Hradec Kralove Region (Czech Republic). Novy Bydzov belongs to smaller towns in the Czech Republic; it extends to the area of 3,524 ha and about 7,200 people live in its territory. The town of Novy Bydzov was founded in 1305 originally as a royal town and it was an important administrative centre of the Cidlina Region. Industry developed from the nineteen century. Industrial plants such as machinery plants, metal cutting plants, metal foundry plants, plants for chemical treatment of metals etc., were in the past separately disseminated in the city and a lot of them were situated in the vicinity of residential areas. State owned enterprises were privatized in the nineties of last century. Some industrial plants were later abandoned or closed as a consequence of bankruptcy or economic inefficiency.
Figure No.1: The aerial photo of the City centre
1.2 Groundwater contamination
The improper handling of hazardous compounds (as chlorinated hydrocarbons, mineral oils etc.) during the communism period caused an uncontrolled groundwater pollution. Although the majority of households in Novy Bydzov can access drinking water distributed by the municipal water supplying system, private wells are also used by some households as a drinking water source or for the purpose of irrigation of gardens.
1.3 Private wells as a health threat
A serious health problem of a citizen living beside a broken and closed plant was discovered in 2007 as a consequence of drinking contaminated water from a private well. The level of groundwater contamination from chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons runs to thousands micrograms per litre. The municipality of Novy Bydzov has started to initiate measures to protect the public health. Exploitation of groundwater from private wells in the area surrounding the plant was banned. Simultaneously the municipality with the aim of the Government of Hradec Kralove Region has started groundwater investigation to identify precisely the source of contamination and to evaluate the range of contamination.
Figure No.2: Map of Groundwater Pollution
1.4 Contamination sources
Other potential risks of groundwater contamination arise from the historical character and disposition of industrial plants in the city, Novy Bydzov. In addition to the identified contamination sources there are other potential hot spots in the area of Novy Bydzov that could represent serious threats for the groundwater quality as well as to the public health. One of these potential sources of chlorinated hydrocarbons contamination glassworks plant, is situated in the vicinity of the municipal drinking water resource, among other ones belong a former tannery located close to the Cidlina River, a dry cleaners applied chlorinated hydrocarbons as a detergent in past, a former petrol station etc.
2. The aim of FOKS Project in Novy Bydzov
An identification of hot spots and an evaluation of environmental and health risks cause by groundwater pollution represent a key priority for the municipality of Novy Bydzov.
The FOKS project means for Nový Bydžov considerable help in identifying, classifying and rectifying the pollution of groundwater and soil on the town’s territory. The following tasks are undertaken in conducting the FOKS project in Nový Bydžov.
a) Assessment of health risks arising from previously identified contamination of groundwater in the premises of the former company Kovoplast.
b) Identification of other potential focal points of groundwater pollution on the town’s territory, their verification and assessment with regard to possible health impacts on the population, on sources of drinkable water and other environmental aspects.
3. Overview of work conducted
3.1 Assessment of health risks arising from previously identified contamination of groundwater in the premises of the former company Kovoplast
3.1.1 Progress of field investigation
April 2009:
- collection of samples of groundwater from private wells in the contaminated area
June – August 2009
- specification of the extent of pollution of the geological environment – drilling probes, lab analysis of soil and groundwater.
- collection of samples from private wells and drill holes – 2 rounds of sampling
- processing the summary analysis of risk for human health arising from the pollution
Figure No.3:Map of PCE pollution of Quaternary Aquifer (August 2009)
January 2010
- the town convened a public meeting with townspeople of the affected area of groundwater pollution that informed them of resulting risk analyses and on planned remedial steps
3.1.2 Review of reports summarizing the results of field investigation (reports are deposited in the archive of Institute of Public Health Ostrava)
August 2009
- Risk analysis of the area of the former plant Kovoplast and of the former factory badges in Novy Bydzov, Dekonta a.s. August 2009. Final report (in the Czech language: Analýza rizik areálu bývalého Kovoplastu a výrobny odznaků v Novém Bydžově, Dekonta,srpen 2009)
3.2 Identification of other potential focal points of groundwater pollution on the town’s territory, their verification and assessment with regard to possible health impacts on the population, on sources of drinkable water and other environmental aspects.
3.2.1 Progress of field investigation
September 09 – January 2010
- comprehensive research of findings on geological inspection on Nový Bydžov’s territory.
- defining of the potential sources of pollution of groundwater on the Nový Bydžov territory.
Figure No.4 :The Potential Sources of Groundwater Contamination
January – March 2010
- Creation and operation of database based on Geographical Information System (GIS) containing data on:
- geological inspection
- hydro-geological objects on the town’s territory
- geo-chemical data on the quality of groundwater
- verification of data on hydro-geological objects and chemical status of groundwater
April – May 2010
- localisation of drillings for Integral Pumping Tests (IPT)
- processing of geological works project
June – July 2010
- Drilling of IPT wells – June 10
- 12 IPT wells were drilled by drilling system AMS Power Probe – Hollow stem augering (diameter 305 mm)
- Hydraulic measurements – July 10
- Short time pumping and rising tests (48 hours)
Input groundwater monitoring in IPT wells
Figure No. 5: Drilling machine on IPT well No.10
August – September 2010
- Performance of Integral Pumping Tests
- IPT was performed on 9 IPT wells,
- Each IPT was extending for 5 days
- Passive sampling of CHC was carried out in 6 wells (Cooperation with Dr. Hansjorg Weiss – IMW)
Figure No.6: Results of chlorinated hydrocarbons from IPT Testing
October – December 2010
- Evaluation of results
- Numerical model of groundwater flow and transport
Figure No.7: Reverse routes of contamination spread from IPT wells
3.2.2 Review of reports summarizing the results of field investigation (reports are deposited in the archive of Institute of Public Health Ostrava)
January 2010
- Research of existing geological knowledge and the identification of potential sources of groundwater contamination in the area of the City Novy Bydzov. Report of literature search. Dekonta, January 2010. (in the Czech language: Rešerše stávajících geologických poznatků a identifikace potenciálních zdrojů znečištění podzemní vody na území Nového Bydžova, Dekonta, leden 2010)
May 2010
- Project of drilling works in the frame of the Project FOKS in the City Novy Bydzov. Technical Project. Dekonta, May 2010. (in the Czech language: Projekt vrtných prací v rámci projektu FOKS v Novém Bydžově, Dekonta, květen 2010)
August 2010
- Project of the integral pumping tests in the frame of the Project FOKS in the City Novy Bydzov. Technical Project. Dekonta, August 2010. (in the Czech language: Projekt integrálních čerpacích zkoušek v rámci projektu FOKS v Novém Bydžově, Dekonta, srpen 2010)
October 2010
- Numerical Model of groundwater flow and transport of contamination. The Project FOKS Novy Bydzov. Report. Dekonta, October 2010. (in the Czech language: Matematický model šíření znečištění.FOKS Nový Bydžov, Dekonta, říjen 2010)
December 2010
- Evaluation of investigation carrying out in the frame of the Project FOKS in the City Novy Bydzov. Final Report. Dekonta, December 2010. (in the Czech language: Vyhodnocení průzkumných prací realizovaných v rámci projektu FOKS v Novém Bydžově. Závěrečná zpráva. Dekonta, prosinec 2010)
