Investigated sites

Tsaidam nuur – industrial waste disposal. An occasional lake located near the industrial area. A subsequent contamination related to the industrial production in the factory located on the bank of the lake is expected. As the contaminants of concern are expected heavy metals and inorganic chemicals.

Baganuur – former Soviet army base. The military base was in operation between 1978 and 1992. Previously was detected local contamination by oil products (diesel, gasoline, oils) in the former garages, workshops and warehouses combat techniques. The potential occurrence of exploded and unexploded ordnance is expected on former firing range and at other places of the base. Surrounding area is poorly inhabited.

Tal Bulag – Narijn tolgoj NE. Huge amount of contaminated soil is disposed at this site as a consequence of former gold mining in the area. The source of contamination is freely stored on the surface it includes contaminated soil and unsecured sewage sludge after gold mining. Wastes contain anomalous contents of mercury and increased content of other heavy metals - As, Pb and Cd. Contamination is spreading into the environment by wind and occasional heavy rains with surface water and mud. There are settlements not far from the site. Also an occasional creek is nearby the site.

Ulaanbatar - railway depo – The site is an industrial area for train maintenance and fuel storage. Site has been operated since 1955. Significant contamination of the soil and very likely ground water is expected. Site is located in the south part of the city of Ulaanbaatar and surrounded with other industrial areas as well as houses for residential living.

Uliastai - former Soviet army fuel storing terminal. City District Uliastai is located about 9 km east of Ulaanbaatar city. Densely populated area is situated at the place of the former central fuel store of ​​approximately area 1 km2. The site is polluted by long term storage and handling of oil products and probable leakages and spills of these products. It is expected that the groundwater is contaminated too. Groundwater may be used nearby the site as a source of drinking water.

Nalaikh – former glass factory – There is a former glass factory on the site. The site is located in the central part of the city. The factory does not work. Inside the area some hazardous chemicals  are stored. Also the constructions of the factory are contaminated. Main contaminants are expected to be heavy metals.

Gorodok - former Soviet army base.  The site is a former military base, located near to the Nalaikh city. There was a heating station burning heating oils. There is number of waste, demolished constructions, waste dump sites, ash, tar and bitumen ponds/lagoons, underground storage tanks with contaminated water etc. The heavy contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum hydrocarbons is expected at the site.

Nalaikh – central heating station. This site is located nearly the city centre. There is a heating station, open coal storage and ash tailing ponds. The source of contamination on the site is the waste from the heating station which contain high concentrations of heavy metals including Uranium. During the windy days a significant amount of dust is mobilized by wind and transported to the wide area around the site. Site is surrounded by number of residential houses/gers and is densely populated.

Ulaanbaatar – former dry cleaning plant This site is located in the city centre. The whole site is built up with no access to the groundwater and limited access to the soil. Presence of chlorinated ethenes is expected at the site as a consequence of former use of the site. The site is located by number of houses for residential living. The groundwater at the site should not be used for drinking water supply.

Ulaanbaatar – outlet of the central WWT plant – The outlet of the central waste water treatment plant to the Tuul river. Discharged water is not treated properly and it continuously pollutes Tuul river. From the confluence the river is heavy polluted and devastated. Wide range of contaminants is expected, for example heavy metals, oil hydrocarbons, dioxins, bacterial and inorganic chemicals.

Amgalan - storage of pesticides – There is a former storage of pesticides on the site.  The site is located in the suburb of Ulaanbaatar. There are residuals of chemicals in the soil on the surface as well as buried. Also remaining construction of former storage buildings are still on the site. Site is surrounded with number of other buildings use for living.

Shivetin vann – livestock disinfection bathtub – A concrete tub originally (from 1970’) used for disinfection of sheep and goats is located in countryside in Baranburen somon. Solutions of disinfection agents with water were spilled on ground after usage. The tub and soil its surroundings are contaminated by pesticide lindane and other isomers of HCH and slightly by PAHs, thus endangering pastures and groundwater at the site, as well as river Burgaltain Gol, which flows in a distance less than 1 km. There are plans to restart using the bathtub again.   

Orkhon – livestock desinfection bathtub - A concrete tub in Orkhon somon has been used for disinfection of sheep and goats for 20 – 30 years. Solutions of disinfection agents with water were spilled on ground after usage. The tub and soil its surroundings are contaminated by pesticide lindane and other isomers of HCH and slightly by PAHs, as well as heavy metals, thus endangering pastures and groundwater at the site, as well as river Suúruún Gol, which flows nearby.

Sukhbaatar - accident in fuel storing reservoir at railway station. There is a fuel storage located on the site very close to the river (app. 50 m). An accidental long term spill from the damaged pipeline into the soil and river is reported from the site. In 2010 a mass death of fish in the river was observed. The local residents pumped the gas from the soil for their needs and purposes. It is expected that most of the gas spilled into the environment has been removed already. Soil and groundwater at the site are remaining contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons. A continuous donation of pollutants into the river is very likely.

Sukhbaatar - former wood impregnation facility. The site is an industrial area which was used in the fifties during the railway construction for railway sleeper impregnation. There are residuals of construction materials, ash, waste etc. The waste is dumped very close to the Orchon river. Contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons of soil and ground water is expected at the site.

Darkhan - ash lagoon of the thermal power plant. There is a large area of ash tailing ponds from the heating station at the site. The site is located on the alluvial floodplain of the Kharaa river. The river is app. 1 km far from the site. The total area of the tailing ponds is app. 2 km2. Some of the tailings has been rehabilited and covered with the clay soil. The ash waste from the heating station and the power plant is the source of contamination at the site. Increased levels of heavy metals (As, Cu) including Uranium are expected. The pollution is spreading into the environment mainly by the wind caring the dust particles.

Darkhan - former wood impregnation facility. The site is an industrial area where the railway sleepers were impregnated in the past. There is a depression of the dimensions of 50 x 500 m filled with the tars, sludge and other various waste. Also some residual constructions of former industrial facilities are at the site. It is expected that the soil and groundwater is contaminated at the site.

Darkhan – leather processing factory. The site is located in the industrial area. The source of contamination is a waste water discharge from the leader proceeding company. The sediments of the surface water bode where the waste waters are discharged are heavily contaminated and do contain a sludge from the factory. Contamination by heavy metals, especially six valent chromium, is expected. Also organic pollutants such as chlorinated ethenes may be presented on the site too. Waste waters are discharged into the surface water body and continuously contaminating the environment.

Darkhan - fuel terminal Oinbirz. The site is a fuel storage facility. According to the available information an accidental spill of 160 m3 of gasoline is reported to happen in the past. Nowadays there are no visible traces of the surface contamination. According to the reported accidental spill, long term storage and handling with oil products, soil nad groundwater contamination is expected at the site.

Bulgan - pesticide dumping – A site located close to the city centre. There was a veterinary station and pesticides storage in the past. Obsolete pesticides are expected at the site. The soil and groundwater might be heavily contaminated especially by organochlorinated pesticides (DDT, HCH). Site is surrounded by houses and gers.

Zuunbayan – pollution and devastation by oil mining The site is a huge area in the countryside near the city of Zuunbayan. The area is for more than 40 years used for oil exploring. The area is heavy contaminated, there many former and active oil sludge lagoons, old wells overflowing and continuously contaminating surface, soil and very likely groundwater.