Chemical leaked

Alarming letter six months after train crash

During the train accident in the fall, the hazardous materials train of the Wels fire department was deployed with six vehicles and 25 men. It was reported that there was no danger to the population.

(Bild: Stadt Wels/laumat.at)

The train accident in the fall is likely to have had a worse impact on the groundwater in the Pernau district of Wels than ÖBB and the city council claimed for a long time. Local residents have now been informed that the contamination is spreading. At short notice, 60 households were invited to an information evening.

Criticism of Wels City Council and ÖBB is becoming ever louder in Wels. At the end of September, a train carrying hazardous goods derailed. Initially it was said that there was no danger to the population. Only later did it emerge that the hydrocarbon styrene had leaked into the surrounding soil. This colorless and sweet-smelling liquid is flammable and harmful to health. Nevertheless, the local residents were not kept up to date by either the responsible water authority (municipal authorities) or the federal railroads. 

It was not until February that the first written information was sent to local residents. They were told that groundwater probes and barrier wells had been installed shortly after the derailment. This reduced the further spread of hydrocarbons in the groundwater.

Due to the direction of groundwater flow, the contamination continues to spread. The ongoing countermeasures minimize this spread.

ÖBB Infrastruktur AG und Magistrat Wels

Just one month later, an alarming letter is sent to the people of Pernau. They are told that the contamination is spreading further due to the direction of groundwater flow. The ongoing countermeasures minimize this spread. 

Emergency water supply in preparation
Residents with a connection to the local water supply are not directly affected. An emergency water supply is being prepared for residents with their own domestic wells. 

Work will take months
Also worrying for the people of Pernau is the information about further renovation steps. Depending on current developments, these could also be necessary at short notice. "As things stand at present, the renovation work will continue for several months," it continues. 

Information evening on March 26
Residents will be invited to an information event at short notice. In addition to representatives of the city and ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG, experts from the specialist company commissioned with the groundwater remediation will also be present at the VHS Pernau (Ingeborg-Bachmann-Straße). The event will begin at 6 pm.

We are demanding a free inspection of the water quality of all domestic wells in the affected area by independent experts.

Klaus Schinninger, SPÖ-Vizebürgermeister

The Wels SPÖ believes that the measures now in place are not comprehensive enough. They already criticized the lack of information in February. Deputy Mayor Klaus Schinninger: "In order to counteract this uncertainty and protect the health of citizens, we are calling for a free inspection of the water quality of all domestic wells in the affected area by independent experts. The costs of this inspection should be borne in full by the city. The city will subsequently indemnify the ÖBB, which caused the damage."