Environment - 25 kilometers of the Rhine affected by pollution
On a stretch of approximately 25 kilometers, a milky and slightly grayish contamination spreads out on the Rhine. According to the police, the entire width of the river is affected between Wiesbaden-Schierstein and the upstream lying Nierstein (Mainz-Bingen district). Water-threatening substances have not been detected by a measuring station so far.
According to a preliminary assessment by the water police, it could be a type of solvent. A water sample has been taken. Initially, there were reports of shimmering layers on the Rhine surface at several locations. Clues as to a possible culprit have not been found yet. The investigations by the water police are ongoing.
The contamination in the Rhine has raised concerns in neighboring districts, such as Rhineland-Palatinate. The environment ministry in Hesse has expressed concern about the potential long-term effects on the water in Wiesbaden. The contamination has also reached the Rhine in Nierstein, located in Rhineland-Palatinate.
