47 Operations Implemented by Environmental Protection Agency for Soil and Water Conservation
In the grimy dirt of the Ennepe-Ruhr district, it's not uncommon to encounter environmental disasters—be it a creek contaminated by a traffic accident, or a patch of ground soaked with diesel from a fire. When these hazards rear their ugly heads, the environmental protection authority of the district springs into action like a well-oiled machine. In 2024, they were on the clock a whopping 47 times.
This 24/7, round-the-clock duty falls to ten brave souls, who stand ready to tackle any environmental calamity that befalls the district—from Hattingen to Breckerfeld. And they don't just stick to regular office hours; half of their deployments take place on weekends, when Mother Nature seems to be at her most vindictive.
The reasons for these 47 deployments were as diverse as a box of Crayolas—around a third were due to traffic accidents where vehicles leaked their precious fluids. In every fourth case, there was water pollution. Fires caused 17%, while 11% were triggered by plant defects. Illegal waste disposal or fish kills were behind 7% of cases each.
When disaster strikes, the authority hops into action, working hand in hand with fire departments, local authorities, and specialized companies to assess the situation and take immediate steps to minimize environmental harm. Think oil barriers in waterways, soil removal, or safe disposal of hazardous substances. The bill for these clean-up efforts is usually passed on to the guilty party, if they can be identified.
A particularly challenging case in 2024 involved a truck fire on the A43 motorway. The blaze released both firefighting water and operating fluids into the soil and an adjacent stream. With a Herculean feat of coordination between the fire department, motorway maintenance team, district administration, and specialized companies, they managed to install oil barriers, carry out earthworks, and clean up the mess in record time.
Citizens are encouraged to dial the fire department if they witness any environmental catastrophe involving hazardous substances—the fire department will take care of the situation on the ground and inform the relevant experts at the district administration if necessary.
- The environmental protection authority's duty in the Ennepe-Ruhr district encompasses various areas of expertise, including science related to health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and climate-change, as they strive to maintain a clean and safe environment for the district's residents.
- In addition to their tireless efforts throughout the week, the environmental protection authority also responds to environmental emergencies on weekends, making significant contributions to the health and wellness of the district by minimizing the impact of environmental disasters.
- The authorities in the Ennepe-Ruhr district work extensively in the field of environmental science, addressing issues such as illegal waste disposal, fish kills, and water pollution, which are not only threats to the immediate environment but also contribute to broader issues like climate change.
