After the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, the clean-up work is proceeding. Authorities are now checking whether there are still any threats to the population.
Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler / Düren – After the devastating floods on the Ahr, the crisis team sees a threat to the population from environmental pollution.
It is about the contamination of water and sludge by fuels, faeces and chemicals: “People must continue to behave very carefully when handling sludge and other things,” said the head of the crisis team, Thomas Linnertz, on Thursday in Bad Neuenahr- Ahrweiler. “Of course, substances have also leaked from storage facilities.” He cited pesticides as an example.
He therefore urged people to wear gloves and protective clothing and wash their hands. Soil is also examined. “This will probably have to be dealt with for a long time,” he said. In order to absorb leaked oil, emergency services from the fire brigade and the technical relief organization (THW) are to be deployed in polluted areas.
In the overall situation, a “certain stability has now been achieved,” said Linnertz. “The focus is still on tidying up.”
However, the situation is “still quite precarious” in the community of Altenahr and in the city of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. In the community of Altenahr, the population continues to be supplied via water tanks and electricity generators.
Check dams for residues
After the flood, the Eifel-Rur Water Association (WVER) has the water in two reservoirs in the Eifel checked for possible residues.
The samples from the Rurtal and Urft dams would be examined for traces of gasoline, heating oil and metals, said the association’s spokesman, Marcus Seiler. Results are not yet available. In the catchment area of the rivers that feed the Urfttalsperre and Rurtalsperre in the Eifel, heating oil tanks and petrol stations were under water during the flood.
The Rurtalsperre is the second largest dam in Germany with a capacity of 202.6 million cubic meters. It is located west of Euskirchen. One area of the dam network is part of the drinking water supply for 600,000 people in Aachen and the surrounding cities.
Cleaning up the dam
The spokesman said a result of the flooding was flotsam on the surface of the water. The association has rented boats that removed tree trunks, branches and washed up rubbish from the surface. First of all, boats are on the way on the Obersee, part of the Rurtalsperre, and on the Urfttalsperre. “Then it is the turn of the Rursee,” said the spokesman.
Water sports can be practiced on this northern part of the water. However, it is currently being warned against this. “Sailboats and surfers can be endangered by floating debris,” said the spokesman. dpa
