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Correct identification and assessment of the prevailing source, scope, and extent of pollution potential is essential for providing efficient preventive remedial actions and management of already occurring contamination on the least-cost basis. In the paper, the identification/assessment procedure for the areas with several sources of long-lasting nonpoint contamination is illustrated by example of the Wroclaw waterworks area in Poland impacted by emission from a ferro-chrome smelter and power plant, as well as by various sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Investigations and studies comprised (1) analysis of physicochemical composition of emitted particulates and deposited wastes, their time- dependent transformations and leachability of contaminants as a function of time; (2) direct multilevel sampling of dump and vadose zone profiles and examination of pore solutions and matrices; (3) ground-water survey in the saturation zone; (4) investigation of infiltration and contaminant migration from radioisotope data; (5) survey of surface water quality; (6) numerical simulation and direct measurements of particulate emission from various sources; (7) analysis and comparison of data on point and nonpoint emission/omission of contaminants with the extent and scope of contamination. In another example, current investigations on the vadose zone screening and monitoring in the area of a high environmental risk in the vicinity of Sendzimir Steelworks near Cracow, Poland are presented.
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