Inspection of selected wells launched in Bratislava due to landfill

The Water Management Research Institute began on Wednesday to inspect selected house wells situated near the landfill containing waste from the former Juraj Dimitrov Chemical Plant in the Bratislava borough of Vrakuňa, the TASR press agency reports. The measure came as a response to the concerns of local people following the recent revelation that the contaminated ground water from the landfill site might threaten drinking water sources in the area. "The results of the analyses of the wells will be known within 15 working days. Further samples will be taken and analysed in the following days," said Water Management Research Institute general director Lubica Kopcova, adding that the analysis would focus on several organic indicators, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides. The 4.65-hectare landfill is estimated to contain some 120,000 cubic metres of waste taken there by the plant between the 1960s-80s. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the contamination only concerns the city boroughs of Vrakuňa, Podunajské Biskupice and Ružinov. The inhabitants of these boroughs were thus requested not to use water from their wells for bathing, showering, watering vegetables or filling pools. It has launched a tender for remediating the landfill in Vrakuňa. The costs incurred for eliminating the environmental burden is estimated at more than €30 million.