As part of the government’s visit to the Pomurje region, the Minister for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Jože Novak, together with the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Murska Sobota, Dr Timi Gomboc, and the Director of the Slovenian Water Institute, Mag. Neža Kodre, to inspect the implementation of emergency measures at the Rak-1 geothermal well in Rakičan.
The Institute was involved in addressing the emergency at the Rak-1 well by the Ministry in its capacity as a specialist public institution. The Director of the Slovenian Water Institute presented the technical framework for the response and the current situation on the ground. As she explained, the emergency measures, which are being carried out by the authorised concessionaire for the maintenance of watercourses and other institutions (ARSO, GeoZS, etc.), will continue until the permanent remediation of the well is complete. The measures include:
- – the establishment of basins to collect the escaping geothermal water,
- – diluting the outflowing water with cold water and its controlled discharge into the Ledava,
- – the installation of three piezometers to monitor any impact on groundwater,
- – monitoring the chemical status of the Ledava River upstream and downstream of the discharge point.
In parallel, the Slovenian Water Institute, together with external contractors, is preparing a project for the permanent remediation of the borehole.
