Monitoring environmental effects in the slufter, a disposal site for contaminated sludge

Abstract

The Slufter, a disposal site for dredging sludge in Rotterdam, was put into use in 1987. The impacts of constructing and operating the Slufter were predicted in an environmental impact assessment study (EIA). Since 1987, the principal processes on the site (compaction, diagenesis and gas formation) and in the dike encircling the site (formation of freshwater reservoirs) have been monitored by means of measurements. Measurements are also used to monitor emissions of pollution. Some of these measurements are taken using instruments specially developed for this purpose. The results gathered show that the EIA predictions for the processes closely approximate the present situation. No emission of pollution from the site has been measured.