title: Risk-based prioritization of ground water threatening point sources at catchment and regional scales.
abstract: Contaminated sites threaten ground water resources all over the world. The available resources for investigation and remediation are limited compared to the scope of the problem, so prioritization is crucial to ensure that resources are allocated to the sites posing the greatest risk. A flexible framework has been developed to enable a systematic and transparent risk assessment and prioritization of contaminant point sources, considering the local, catchment, or regional scales (Danish EPA, 2011, 2012). The framework has been tested in several catchments in Denmark with different challenges and needs, and two of these are presented. Based on the lessons learned, the Danish EPA has prepared a handbook to guide the user through the steps in a risk-based prioritization (Danish EPA, 2012). It provides guidance on prioritization both in an administratively defined area such as a Danish Region, and within the bounds of a specified ground water catchment. The handbook presents several approaches in order to prevent the prioritization from foundering because of a lack of data or an inappropriate level of complexity. The developed prioritization tools, possible graphical presentation and use of the results are presented using the case studies as examples. The methodology was developed by a broad industry group including the Danish EPA, the Danish Regions, the Danish Nature Agency, the Technical University of Denmark, and consultants - and the framework has been widely accepted by the professional community in Denmark. The concepts are quite general and can be applied in other countries facing similar challenges.
authors.affiliation: Orbicon, Denmark. Electronic address: nido@orbicon.dk.
authors.forename: Niels Døssing
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Overheu
authors.affiliation: Orbicon, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tuxen
authors.affiliation: Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flyvbjerg
authors.affiliation: Danish EPA, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aabling
authors.affiliation: Orbicon, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens Asger
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørn K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thyregod
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Binning
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, Denmark.
authors.forename: Poul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bjerg
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Catchment scale; Contaminated soils; Ground water; Management; Prioritization; Risk assessment