UFC-Que Choisir sounds the alarm

Should we be afraid of drinking tap water in the Rouen Metropolis (Seine-Maritime). In order to find out for sure, the UFC Que-Choisir association, with Générations Futures, carried out a vast study in 30 water catchment points in France, including two in the Rouen metropolitan area (which has 11 in total).

It appears that, like all the other large cities and metropolises surveyed, the presence of PFAS (for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)commonly referred to as “eternal pollutants”has been detected.

Rates currently in line, but….

UFC Que-Choisir had the water analyzed by an independent laboratory once treated, those that the consumer drinks at home. The two catchment points chosen are those of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, which supplies the municipalities of Sotteville, Petit-Quevilly and Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, and the catchment of central Rouen.

These two points were chosen deliberately: the first is located downstream from a former chemical production area and the second treats water — at the La Jatte factory — which crosses cultivated agricultural areas, and therefore potentially polluted.

In Sotteville, the presence of around ten PFAS was detectedat levels not exceeding 21 ng/l for the most important, and a content of TFA (trifluoroacetic acid, resulting from the degradation of pesticides, currently not monitored by the authorities) of 110 ng/l. While in central Rouen, two PFAS were detected, at similar levels, as well as a TFA content of 250 ng/l.

“If we take the standard that France will apply from 2026 (100 ng/l maximum for 20 PFAS), the samples from Rouen-centre and Sotteville-les-Rouen should be considered compliantnotes Alain Rouziès, vice-president of the UFC Que-Choisir branch in Rouen. But this value of 100 ng/l is not based on any toxicological data: it is simply the level of detection then possible taking into account the analysis methods of several decades ago. »

Clearly, this standard, even before being applied, is already completely obsolete and does not guarantee the safety of the water tested.

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Moreover, countries like Denmark or Sweden will soon apply rates which would place the Rouen metropolitan area in the red if they were in force here.

An “alarming” presence

Consequently, the association considers that the presence of these “very persistent products, difficult to destroy”, is “alarming”. And she calls for concrete measures to be taken to remedy the situation. : “Integrate TFA research into the official control plan and adopt more protective standards on the presence of PFAS in tap water, based on recent toxicological data; ban on production and distribution of any pesticide considered to be PFAS. »

As for the reason for the presence of these eternal pollutants, UFC Que Choisir limits itself to outlining hypotheses: “We are not able to provide answers,” explains Alain Rouziès. But can we ask ourselves questions? Are there traces of the Lubrizol fire, smoke and fire-fighting products? What role does the presence of the BASF factory in Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeufa major producer of TFA, in the pollution of the Seine, and therefore throughout the territory? »

So many questions on which the association intends to continue its role as “whistleblower”.

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