The territory of Špitálka lies in a large industrial area. Even the site selected for the construction of the smart district is still part of the operation of Teplárny Brno. For this reason, it was necessary to verify the areal extent of pollution not only of the soil, but also of the groundwater and surface water. The results were then used to assess the potential threats to human health and local ecosystems.
During the study, four deep boreholes were excavated, 20 shallow probes were drilled and surface water samples were taken at the area. The hazardous substances storage area, garages, workshops and the area where the burnt fuel oil was heated and pumped were investigated as potential sources of pollution.
These contaminants were monitored during the work:
- petroleum substances (hydrocarbons C10–C40)
- monoaromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX)
- polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
- degreasers – chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC)
- metals – arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn)
- ammonium ions, chlorides, nitrogen compounds, sulphates
The conclusions of the analysis brought good news, as no significant environmental contamination was present at the area. Only the floors of some of the buildings were found to be contaminated above the limit, but no further use is envisaged here. The highest concentrations of harmful substances were measured in old buildings that serve as storage or parking areas for motorized machinery. The surface flow, the Svitava millrace, which flows around Špitálka from the east and south, is not polluted either.
The results of the analysis were also sent to the Czech Environmental Inspectorate (CEI), which will comment on the established remediation limits.