PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Water pollution caused by discharges from St. Petersburg is a major problem for the Baltic Sea (which is an environmental “hot spot” according to HELCOM). In particular, leachate from the city's landfills, generally contaminated with heavy metals and other hazardous substances, is an important source of pollution when not treated. The meteorological conditions of St. Petersburg (notably the heavy precipitation), combined with the proximity of landfills to the Baltic coast, make the absence of proper management of leachate a critical issue that needs to be dealt with as a top priority.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the project is the prevention of the pollution of the Baltic Sea by leachate from St. Petersburg's landfills. Specifically, the project aims to: · Collect information on the volume and amount of leachate contamination; · Develop a feasibility study for a demonstration project of leachate collection and treatment; · Implement a pilot project using prototype equipment at one of the St Petersburg landfills; and · Develop a programme for the prevention of pollution caused by the dumping of leachate in St Petersburg, including a financing plan.
RESULTS
The project contributed to the overall objective of reducing and preventing the pollution from leachate discharges in the Baltic Sea. The beneficiary has achieved the specific objectives foreseen in the proposal except the completion of the pilot project, which is still underway. In particular, the project's results include: · Better knowledge of the leachate volume, flow, and composition; · Identification of sound management solutions for the leachate of the two main landfills around St. Petersburg (including feasibility study, economic analysis, and legal authorisation); · Preparation of the detailed design of a full scale pilot project of leachate management at the Novoselky landfill (PTO-3): the on-site collection of the leachate will be improved and the collected leachate will be transferred to the municipal North-West Waste Water Treatment Plant for treatment; and · Development of a City Programme of measures for the prevention of pollution caused by the dumping of leachate in St Petersburg. Due to a number of unexpected circumstances, the pilot project could not be completed within the timeframe of the LIFE project. However, thanks to the strong commitment of St. Petersburg's authorities and the Finnish partner, the implementation of the pilot project is still ongoing. The necessary equipment (pumps and piping) has already been procured. The beneficiary completed the excavation and installation works for the leachate collection system in October 2003. The new pumps for the pumping station are to be installed by mid-2004 and leachates will then start being transferred to the NW WWTP. The project contributed to the overall objective of reducing and preventing the pollution from leachate discharges in the Baltic Sea. The beneficiary has achieved the specific objectives foreseen in the proposal except the completion of the pilot project, which is still underway. In particular, the project's results include: · Better knowledge of the leachate volume, flow, and composition; · Identification of sound management solutions for the leachate of the two main landfills around St. Petersburg (including feasibility study, economic analysis, and legal authorisation); · Preparation of the detailed design of a full scale pilot project of leachate management at the Novoselky landfill (PTO-3): the on-site collection of the leachate will be improved and the collected leachate will be transferred to the municipal North-West Waste Water Treatment Plant for treatment; and · Development of a City Programme of measures for the prevention of pollution caused by the dumping of leachate in St Petersburg. Due to a number of unexpected circumstances, the pilot project could not be completed within the timeframe of the LIFE project. However, thanks to the strong commitment of St. Petersburg's authorities and the Finnish partner, the implementation of the pilot project is still ongoing. The necessary equipment (pumps and piping) has already been procured. The beneficiary completed the excavation and installation works for the leachate collection system in October 2003. The new pumps for the pumping station are to be installed by mid-2004 and leachates will then start being transferred to the NW WWTP.