Concepts and analyses for preventive flood protection

“As a chemist and founder of a company for analyses and consulting on environmental issues, I am concerned with how complex the causes responsible for climate change interact. However, I also realise how broadly positioned we experts are to be able to contribute to the detailed solutions required here. It becomes clear: risk and danger are no longer exceptions, but are becoming the rule, and with the pile-up of flood and drought years, we must find new answers for the preservation of our habitat. What are the actual tasks and what can we contribute to solving them?”, states Dr Erwin Weßling.

Soil structure and water content

The humus content of soils is important for the absorption of precipitation and the retention of moisture. However, it is also a decisive factor in influencing the climate, as it represents one of the largest near-surface CO₂ reservoirs. The consequences of climate change, however, such as drought, wind erosion, heavy rainfall, and runoff, can severely damage the humus soil. Appropriate management and treatment of the soil, for example, the cultivation of green manure plants and the forced use of organic fertilisers, counteract this.

With soil analyses, infiltration tests and on-site recommendations for planting and fertilisation, our experts assist with the enrichment of the soil with humus. With groundwater analyses, they can determine its age, which allows for conclusions to be drawn about the respective soil quality and situation. With drinking water analyses and surveys of aquifers – groundwater aquifers, also groundwater horizons – they can safeguard our most important food.