A large, Ford vehicle assembly plant was located at the remediation site in Genk between 1963 and 2015, and had gone through several stages of expansion.
Several pollution cores that require remediation have been identified on the basis of soil surveys:
- Core 1: BTEX (and mineral oil) in the solid part of the earth and in groundwater;
- Core 2: BTEX (and mineral oil) in the solid part of the earth and in groundwater;
- Core 3: Mineral oil (and BTEX) in the solid part of the earth, in groundwater and as a floating layer;
- Core 4: BTEX (and mineral oil) in the solid part of the earth, in groundwater and as a floating layer;
- Core 13: BTEX in the solid part of the earth and in groundwater;
- Core 29: BTEX (and mineral oil) in the solid part of the earth and in groundwater.
The first phased soil remediation project will focus on the core approach to the pollution. A master plan for the redevelopment of the site is currently taking form. This redevelopment focuses on opening up a new industrial site and a zone for the development of water-related activities.