1 JSS (3) 2001     Spring-2000 flood in the Spittelwasser lowland area (Bitterfeld Region, Germany). A special example demonstrating the dispersion of highly contaminated sediments and soils in a large catchment is the so-called Chemistry Tri-angle of the upper Elbe River system. In particular, the 60 km 2 of lowland in the 'Spittelwasser' area, downstream from Bitterfeld-Wolfen, is affected by pollutants such as HCH isomers, DDT and other chloroorganic slud-ges, distillation residues, dyes and salts. During flooding events, soil and sediment particles are mobilised and re-deposited, thus representing a hazard for the marsh lands of the Mulde/Elbe River system, which is an economic risk for the Port of Hamburg due to the increased treatment costs, and an ecological risk for the North Sea. The Spittelwasser area was chosen by the organisers of the interna-tional conference ConSoil 2000 for a case comparison. Four expert teams from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK were invited to participate in this Case Study. Evaluation of the plan was performed by members of the networks of NICOLE (Network for Industrially Contaminated Land) and CLARINET (Contaminated Land Rehabilition Network). The Spittelwasser case comparison can be regarded as a starting point for multidisciplinary research on innovative solutions for complex prob-lems connected with the erosion and mobilisation of highly contami-nated soil and sediment material. The German approach is presented in the article 'In-situ Sediment Treatment' by Ulrich Förstner, Joachim Gerth, Martina Lindemann and Uwe Wittmann (pp 181-187). The article focuses on the effects of various 'natural attenuation' processes which are advantageous both in terms of cost efficiency and sustainability. Photo: Ulrich Förstner. Cover design: Gerhard Mrugalla.

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