In April 2024, the Flemish Public Waste Agency, OVAM, will commence soil remediation works on the site of 'the Great Factory' in Reppel (Bocholt) and Ellikom (Oudsbergen) to prevent the spread of contaminated arsenic particles in the groundwater. Together with contractor DEME, Antea Group will tackle this soil remediation project and further investigate the deeper groundwater downstream. The remediation works are expected to be completed by December 2025. 

Extensive research and stakeholder engagement

Remediation works were already carried out in Reppel and Ellikom in 2001, where contaminated soil was excavated and stored in a closed repository. OVAM is now taking additional steps to prevent the spread of arsenic contamination in the groundwater. Over a period of two years, we conducted extensive research, including Iflux measurements, pilot tests, feasibility tests for water treatment, groundwater modeling, and environmental impact assessments. Discussions were also held with various stakeholders, leading to a project that takes into account the interests of all parties involved.

The contaminated soils at the factory site will be excavated and isolated in a remediation repository that corresponds to the previous repository from 2001. The arsenic-containing groundwater will be treated using a Pump & Treat method. This is a widely used method to treat groundwater contaminated with dissolved chemicals. To prevent this contamination from reaching the adjacent nature reserve, an "active barrier" is installed. The entire project will be monitored for 30 years to verify and ensure the effectiveness of the remediation.