CityChlor

Project Objective

CityChlor is an interreg IVB-NWE project between partners from Flanders, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Partners worked on solutions for chlorinated solvents in urban areas. One of the solutions is the so-called 'integrated approach', early cooperation and alignment between all the actors involved in urban spatial planning and development

The integrated approach combines all aspects that are relevant to tackling the problems caused by VOC in an urban environment. An integrated approach allows for more synergies through early connecting and integrating different disciplines in urban planning is thought to be the most effective approach. This is a complex matter and the actors involved will need guidance to achieve an integrated approach and good collaboration.

Within CityChlor we strived to find solutions for the technical, characterisation and remediation aspects as well as the socio-economic challenges.

Project duration

The project started in November 2009 and ended with the conference in May 2013 in Ghent.

Results

1. Integrated approach

An approach that combines all aspects that are relevant to tackling the problems caused by VOC in an urban environment:

  • Combines: depending on area, site, context you can use different aspects together or parallel to each other.
  • All aspects: socio-economic aspects (like urban development, communication, financial and legal aspects), techniques, time, space, environment, actors (active & passive) and contexts.

2. Characterisation techniques

There is a need for efficient techniques for characterisation that can be used in urban environments. Several new techniques exist and have already proved their value, but they do not find their way easily to broad application. CityChlor adressed these types of characterisation problems, tested some solutions and evaluated the outcomes.

3. Remediation techniques

Remediation in urban areas must not hinder economic and social activities. In most cases remediation must therefore be achieved ‘in-situ'. This means treating the pollution without excavation. There are countless highly promising remediation techniques but most of these are not widely used. To remove the barriers to market acceptance of innovative remediation techniques, we developed codes of best practice based on demonstration projects.

4. Social and economical aspects

Remediation is also a matter of communication, legislation and financing. And with an area-oriented (more polluted sites at once) and integrated approach (all stakeholders together), those aspects are more important than ever. In clear terms: without good communication, legislation and financing the area-oriented and integrated approach will not work. Or, to turn it around: good communication, legislation and financing can make your urban redevelopment even more successful.

5. Videos

The CityChlor YouTube channel presents a range of videos, from an animated video of the integrated approach to real life practical videos of characterisation and remediation projects.

6. Review

At the start of the project, a state-of-the-art inventory assures that results of previous relevant European and regional projects have been critically reviewed and incorporated in the project. A number of remediation projects that faced difficulties have been critically reviewed. Regional workshops are held to involve all relevant stakeholders. All these documentations, including presentations and reports of CityChlor workshops, can be found here.

Pilot projects

The pilot projects aim to remove barriers to market acceptance of innovative technologies. They act as demonstration and validation sites for new techniques and communication aspects of the integrated approach. The results are used to establish codes of best practice that will support implementation. The pilot projects are coordinated by one partner, but followed by a team in which all regions are involved. This will aid in the development of a harmonised basis for knowledge, which will facilitate the access of contractors to the international market.

  1. Nano-iron injection for source treatment
  2. Innovative Detection Techniques: EnISSA-MIP and RNS
  3. Communication in soil remediation
  4. Characterization tools and Monitored Natural Attenuation
  5. Thermal treatment
  6. Bio-process monitoring
  7. Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

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Interreg IVB NWE