BMBF-research-focus ‘percolation water prognosis’ concept and current activities

Abstract

The 41 participants of the BMBF-research-focus ‘percolation water prognosis’ are working out the scientific basis of the methods, which are needed to carry out this ‘percolation water prognosis’. They are either focussing on the further development of methods for determining the source strength of materials or on improving existing models for predicting the contaminant transport through soils. Validity and transferability of these developed methods/models are evaluated by including the core projects ‘reference materials’ and ‘lysimeter experiments’ . Scientific co-ordination is carried out at the HSL, where — among other activities — a central database will be created to compare and interpret the results of the different projects. A routine procedure for carrying out the ‘percolation water prognosis’ in most cases must be easily applicable and generally accepted. Nevertheless, the research projects are examining the arising questions from different perspectives and apply highly sophisticated methods in order to provide a sound scientific basis [8]. Most of the projects have started in the course of the year 2001, so first results may be expected during 2002.