water pollution to fear?

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An accident which could have serious consequences. This Wednesday, December 11, 2024, around 5 a.m., a truck carrying fuel oil overturned in the town of Saussay (Seine-Maritime)north of Rouen.

Quickly responding to the scene, firefighters initially reported “a significant leak” of fuel. This leak threatens the water catchment basin.

Spilled polluting materials

Following the accident, a system was quickly put in place, traffic was cut off on the RD 142. Despite the intervention of the emergency services, polluting materials spilled onto the ground, particularly in a field as well as on the shoulders and roads. ditches.

“An environmental impact assessment has been carried out by Veolia concerning the Limésy water treatment plant,” reports the Seine-Maritime Departmental Fire and Rescue Service. Furthermore, the Seine-Maritime prefecture informs that “decontamination and road cleaning operations are underway”. And added: “The road will remain closed in both directions until the end of these operations. »

In the event of proven pollution, drinking water could then be cut off and nearly 25,000 households would thus find themselves impacted.

Strong vigilance

Asked by 76actu, Laurent Ouillonthe director of technical services and responsible for the drinking water service of the Caux-Austreberthe community of communes indicates that “very particular vigilance is in place” and that the water cut is “possible” but that it is not current affairs.

The difficulty is that “the accident occurred right in the middle of the Austreberthe catchment supply basin,” continues Laurent Ouillon. This concerns a large area, going from Yerville to Barentin.

Concerning the risks, he explains that dry weather is a good ally: “It is especially when there is rain that we will know more. The first impact of the pollution could be on Saturday.”

This is an atypical situation. There will be increased monitoring of water quality for at least 15 days.

“We will gradually transmit the results of the analyzes to the Regional Health Agency,” adds the head of the drinking water service of the Caux-Austreberthe community of communes. The ARS will then make decisions based on the results observed.

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