Securing ground water
Fresh ground water is formed under Fehmarn and Lolland by the precipitation falling on the two islands. On its way down through the earth, impurities are filtered out, making ground water much cleaner than rain water and fit for drinking. However, drinking water is not extracted from the underground in the areas affected by the fixed link on Fehmarn and Lolland. A tunnel solution will affect ground water, by changing the ground water level in the earth. Changes in land use, for the toll station for example, could also affect the filtering of rain water down into ground water, and increase the risk of contamination of ground water. Tunnel and asphalting affect the ground water table Access roads and ramps will be asphalted, and there will be a toll station on Lolland. This means that the precipitation that falls on the asphalted areas will no longer filter down into the ground water, but most probably be led to watercourses. Both factors could result in a local drop in the ground water table. In case of spillage
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An accident involving an overturned tanker, for instance, could result in local contamination of the ground water. The risk is greatest if oil runs over the sides of the road. If it remains on the road, it will be collected by the drainage system. |
The ground water table is the level beneath the earth where the top surface of the ground water is found. Ground water often lies in underground sand pockets. It can be ‘artesian’, meaning that, it is confined by less porous layers of clay above, or it can be free. When ground water is pumped up more quickly than it can be replaced, the ground water table drops.
