Assessing the Pollution of Water Protection Areas and River Banks along the Elbe and Mulde Rivers after the Flood Event in August 2002

Abstract

AbstractInvestigations addressing the pollution with inorganic and potentially pathogenic contaminants resulting from the August 2002 high flood event of the rivers Elbe and Mulde have been performed in water protection areas and along the inundated banks of both rivers. Soil and plant material were investigated for potential pathogens and indicator organisms such as coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and for inorganic compounds like Al, Zn, nitrate, and orthophosphate. Soil sediments down to a depth of 120 cm, as well as soils and plants along traverses have extensively been studied over a time range of up to one year after the flood event but in none of these environmental compartments a significant maintenance of pollutants could be proven. However, recommendations are given concerning the assessment of microbiological contamination that may arise from possible future flood events.