Monitoring

Planning and documentation for authorisation:

In several places, the removal of solid contaminant sources from the surface did not mean full-scale remediation, since both surface water and groundwater may have become contaminated. Therefore, the remediation of groundwater had to be carried out in these areas, too.

MECSEK-ÖKO designed the systems of the ongoing and post-remediation monitoring on the former uranium mining and Gyöngyösoroszi sites. Appropriate documentation for authorisation has also been compiled.

The company is also in charge of the technical plans for annual development of the hydrogeological monitoring systems operated both on the uranium mining site and the Gyöngyösoroszi site.

Monitoring involves sampling the water of monitoring wells, community dug wells, surface water flows, lakes and water reservoirs at regular intervals (usually every three or six months). Radiological monitoring during landscaping and at all stages of remediation (before - during - after) ensured the observation of the exposure of the environment, the population and the workforce, compliance with technical and radiation protection requirements, results of remediation and its long term control with proper efficiency.

Stations for continuous measurement are state-of-the-art elements of radiological monitoring. They provide continuous measuring of the environmental exposure of the population and they help assess the success of interventions. There is a station near the tailings facilities in Pellérd, and, formerly, there was one in Kővágószőlős.



The monitoring of rock movement (concerning the mechanisms of rock movement, geodynamics, and geodesy) is necessary because the 18 million m³ cavity was abandoned mostly without being backfilled and unsupported. In the areas where workings were not very deep down (max. 200-300m) and where there are surface facilities, which should be protected, the contraction and collapse of cavities may endanger the stability and normal use of the surface buildings. As part of the monitoring activity, we have built and have been operating a precise levelling network consisting of 122 points in an area of nearly 60 km² in the Western Mecsek Hills, and in their surroundings.

The Gyöngyösoroszi site remediation aimed at the closure of the mine and the landscaping of the affected areas has involved the installation of a surface and subsurface water monitoring network.

The objective of building this network was to provide the data necessary for planning the remediation works. At present, the network serves the purpose of tracking the environmental impact of the work in progress. As regards the future, we are planning to maintain and operate the network so as to be able to monitor the long-term effects and results of the completed work, and then to evaluate it.