Water body ecology and restoration

The research team "Water Body Ecology and Restoration" looks into groundwater regeneration and groundwater quality in areas that have undergone hydrological and hydrochemical changes on grounds of lignite extraction over a wide area. One main topic is the influence of the various dumping substrates and different forms of land use on groundwater recharge and the quality of groundwater and water bodies.
A special problem is the oxidation of iron sulphides frequently contained in the dumps associated with mining, causing an intense acidification and high salt concentrations in the seepage and the ground water. This demands the development of suitable restoration technologies.
A further focal area is the work on the complex design and sustainable development of watercourses in post-mining landscapes in terms of both water management and environmental efficiency.