Focus on Key Sources of Environmental Risks

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Protecting the environment now and for future generations is one of the pre-conditions for sustainable growth. This is especially relevant for groundwater resources, which are treated by most of EU countries as a strategic source of drinking water for future generations. One has to bear in mind that groundwater is a specific environmental medium. Its degradation sometimes occurs many years after the contamination started. On the other hand, once polluted, it takes many years to achieve rehabilitation. FOKS deals with management of groundwater pollution, with a special focus on industrial pollutants. Some EU countries have problems with identification, assessment and management of contaminated groundwater bodies. In the case of many industrial areas even large invested funds do not ensure the expected improvement of the groundwater quality. Therefore, it is essential to provide innovative technical and administrative tools for groundwater management at industrially contaminated areas. The project will improve the quality of the groundwater resources as essential part of the environment and will lead to a better protection of the environment by cleaning existing groundwater damages and by removing sources of contaminated soils. Furthermore a better use of degraded areas will be targeted. FOKS will contribute to an adjustment of territorial disparities by mutual interaction and cooperation in the field of environmental management, administrative work and by the implementation of innovative, advanced procedures.

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