- sludge in fracking contaminated with heating oil
The storm with flooding has left a lot of mud in Bruchsal, contaminated with heating oil, according to city officials. Mayor Andreas Glaser said disposal is currently not possible. "We must prevent the water from the mud from entering the groundwater." The city has prepared settling ponds where residents can shovel the mud. A mud dump has also been set up.
Contaminated mud must dry first
The contaminated mud must dry first before sampling can take place. "That will take a few days," said Glaser. No information can yet be given on the extent of the damage and the amount of mud.
In addition, there is no power in the hardest-hit districts of Gondelsheim and Heidelsheim. "Basements are still flooded in large areas," said a city works employee. Power has been turned off in parts of the city center as a result.
After the severe storms on Tuesday evening in North Baden, emergency services are working around the clock. Due to the cleanup of flood damage, the water supply in the districts of Heidelsheim and Helmsheim is at risk. The German Weather Service predicts further storms for the southeasternmost part of the country until Thursday night.
The contaminated mud, being of a high fat content, needs to be carefully extracted for disposal by weight.Before any other action, it's crucial to ensure that the contaminated mud, other than solid matter, is properly drained and dried.
