FAQs
Remediation of Contaminated Sites

On 12.10.2026, a public information event will take place from 16:00 to 18:00 at Amadeus Terminal 2. Together with our experts and the project managers, we will present the Phase 2 remediation project in detail. You will have the opportunity to ask your questions directly on site. From this date onward, detailed information and documents on Phase 2 will also be available on our website.

As things stand, total project costs amount to approximately €50 million; this figure covers the currently ongoing stabilization measures (Phase 1) and construction work (Phase 2), as well as expenses for ongoing groundwater monitoring and other costs.

Funding of up to €30 million from the contaminated site remediation fund has been requested for the overall remediation project, with the remainder to be financed by the airport itself.

PFAS is an abbreviation for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, also known under the older name PFC. PFAS are organic fluorine compounds and, due to their technical properties, have been or are used in numerous consumer products (see below) as well as in fire extinguishing agents (new - fluorine-free - extinguishing agents have been used at the airport since autumn 2018). 

In non-stick pans, cake pans, water- and dirt-repellent textile clothing (e.g. outdoor clothing, Goretex, etc.), impregnations (for shoes, textiles, leather, etc.), "Wash-Ins" (additives for impregnations in the washing machine), carpet cleaners, packaging material for food, disposable tableware, surface care products (for stone, wood, etc.), ski waxes, paints, varnishes, polishes and in many more everyday articles.

Yes, the application of PFAS-containing firefighting foam was classified as a legacy contamination site dating back to the 1960s. The affected area of ​​the airport was designated as a Priority 1 legacy site in accordance with the Contaminated Sites Ordinance. Measures necessary for the remediation of the contaminated areas have been—and continue to be—defined. This work is being carried out in close coordination with the State of Salzburg and the Environment Agency Austria. The final designation of legacy site S23 was established on August 10, 2026.

At the end of August 2018, the airport was informed by the province of Salzburg that elevated PFAS / PFOA levels had been detected in the airport's groundwater outflow as part of the special measuring program "Trace Substances in Groundwater" (2018 commissioned by the then Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism).

Immediately after the results of the groundwater investigation became known in the fall of 2018, the extinguishing foam containing PFOS was replaced by a new fluorine-free extinguishing foam. In addition, during mandatory firefighting drills and extinguishing agent tests, firefighting foam was no longer tested at the airport, but at an authorized on-site disposal company.

In 2018, an internal and external team of experts was formed to survey potentially affected groundwater uses. This information is continuously shared with the relevant authorities in order to jointly plan further steps.

In the autumn of 2022, the Nature and Environmental Protection Department of the State of Salzburg commissioned an environmental monitoring program to assess the impact of PFAS contamination on water usage downstream of the "S23" legacy contaminated site. Groundwater, surface water, fruit and vegetables, and fish were tested for potential PFAS contamination.
It was determined that there is generally no acute health risk (regarding drinking water, fruit, and vegetables). However, regarding fish consumption, medical advice has been—and continues to be—to reduce the consumption of fish from the affected bodies of water.
Visit the website: Environmental Monitoring – State of Salzburg

Yes; the expertise of Senior Physician Assoc. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. med. Hans-Peter Hutter—Head of the Department of Environmental Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna—is indispensable regarding all matters of environmental medicine. Professor Hutter has been involved in the PFAS legacy contamination remediation project from the very beginning, and his professional expertise informs all measures associated with the remediation project.
 

From 2026, the drinking water limit for these substances will be 0.1µg/l,. Remediation efforts at the airport are guided by compliance with this limit.

Comparatively higher concentrations are found in fish than in other foods.

Fundamentally, the aim is to keep the population's exposure to PFAS through food as low as possible. To assess the health implications of PFAS exposure, the TWI (Tolerable Weekly Intake—the maximum amount of substances or contaminants in food that can be consumed weekly over a lifetime without resulting in adverse health effects) can be used as a reference.

Following a comprehensive re-evaluation of the health effects of four indicator substances within the PFAS group, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a precautionary TWI of 4.4 nanograms per kilogram of body weight.

While exceeding the tolerable intake does not pose an immediate health risk, it does reduce the precautionary safety margin regarding potential adverse health effects. Given the concentrations detected previously, consuming even a single portion of fish (approx. 100 g) is likely to result in exceeding the TWI value by a significant margin. Therefore, based on EFSA recommendations and for reasons of preventive health protection, consumption is currently advised against.

This assessment is based on a specific evaluation of a limited number of samples. However, it is highly probable that fish in the areas currently being sampled contain similarly high concentrations. Conclusion: From a preventive health perspective, the regular consumption of local fish is not recommended; instead—if consumed at all—it should occur no more than once every six months. Likewise, as a precautionary measure, children and pregnant women are strongly advised against consuming fish from the contaminated area.

In general, adverse effects associated with certain PFAS have been demonstrated regarding—among other things—lipid metabolism, the immune and hormonal systems, and, notably, the developing fetus.

The health risk associated with acute or chronic exposure depends primarily on the concentration and type of PFAS, the duration of exposure, and whether the water is actually consumed or used to prepare food.

If contaminated groundwater is used as drinking water or for beverages, the amount ingested is of health concern. This also applies to water used for cooking and preparing infant formula, as well as to foods prepared with such water. Showering and bathing, however, are less problematic, as absorption through the skin is typically minimal.

As a precautionary measure, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not consume water contaminated with PFAS. Naturally, this also applies to the preparation of infant formula. Overall, residents in the study area are currently advised, as a precaution, against using water from private wells for the purposes described above.

If you have a private well in the contaminated area, you should not use the water for drinking or food preparation. While the water has been used to irrigate fruit and vegetable plants, test results to date indicate that contamination levels in the edible parts are low. However, if large quantities of produce are grown in your own garden, it is recommended as a precautionary measure to have this food tested, if this has not already been done.

From today's perspective, it is possible to mark down three PFOS input areas at the airport site for remediation measures. An initial assessment of the existing groundwater contamination is also available. All investigations will be continued and completed step by step. 

Phase 2 involves securing the contaminated site known as S23 by constructing an underground diversion wall on the airport premises. Incoming groundwater is diverted around the contaminated area, and the ground surface is additionally sealed with a membrane. This prevents further leaching of PFAS caused by percolating rainwater.

In addition, the groundwater treatment system (providing hydraulic containment) remains in operation—utilizing pumps—to treat the PFAS-contaminated groundwater and subsequently return it to the aquifer.
The diversion wall and surface seal will remain in place permanently following the construction phase, while the groundwater treatment system from Phase 1 will be upgraded and continue to operate.

The decision regarding the chosen containment method was based on a comprehensive assessment of remediation options conducted in 2022 by external experts. The remediation method now selected for Phase 2 was determined to be the best implementation option in consultation with the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt).

The construction of the diversion wall creates a technical barrier around the designated contaminated site. The wall directs the entire groundwater flow around the contaminated zone, permanently preventing groundwater from flowing through the area and leaching PFAS from the contaminated soil.

As things stand, this represents the likely final containment measure for the contaminated site. The groundwater treatment plant from Phase 1 is expected to remain in operation for decades.

Operating the Phase 1 groundwater treatment plant yielded significant insights.

The existing treatment plant receives groundwater pumped from wells located within the designated contaminated site. Analyses indicated that this groundwater requires additional pre-treatment before passing through the activated carbon filter. This is due to the unfavorable quality of the groundwater in the eastern airport area—specifically, elevated iron and manganese concentrations.

Consequently, the planning process placed special emphasis on raw water treatment—specifically iron and manganese removal and oxygen enrichment—to prepare the extracted groundwater for the subsequent removal of PFAS via activated carbon filtration.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2027 with preliminary investigations (exploratory drilling) along the alignment of the cut-off wall. Phase 2 stabilization measures—comprising construction of the cut-off wall, modification of the groundwater treatment plant, and surface sealing—will be carried out in 2028 and 2029.

The remediation work to secure the contaminated site is scheduled for completion in 2030.

Important: The schedule is contingent upon the necessary regulatory approvals; furthermore, one of the major hurdles—particularly regarding the timeline—remains the fact that there is currently no established disposal pathway in Austria for excavated material contaminated with PFAS.

The main construction activities for Phase 2 are scheduled for the summer months (April to October) of 2028 and 2029; the guide wall will be constructed in 2028, and the surface sealing will be carried out in 2029. Expert preliminary assessments indicate that noise and vibration impacts are to be expected during this period.

As a precautionary measure, all construction activities will be monitored and overseen by experts specializing in noise, vibration, and environmental medicine. In addition, local residents will be informed prior to the start of construction, and precautionary measures to document the condition of nearby buildings will be taken where appropriate.

A central point of contact for affected parties will be established, alongside comprehensive documentation and continuous noise and vibration monitoring. Further information regarding these measures will be provided in due course, based on the actual project schedule.

The current remediation method also provides for the proper disposal of PFAS-contaminated soil. However, due to the lack of a legal framework (an amendment to the Landfill Ordinance is currently still pending), this is not yet possible.

In coordination with the authorities, continuous groundwater monitoring is to be carried out in the relevant downstream area. The groundwater treatment plant will continue to operate on a permanent basis—expectedly for decades—to prevent the discharge of PFAS into the groundwater body.

Salzburg Airport will provide regular updates on its website regarding the progress of any further measures.