the prefecture takes a radical measure

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Still many questions and a catastrophic ecological assessment: already a week after the start of the exceptional pollution which affects the Loing canal in Bagneaux-sur-Loing (Seine-et-Marne), causing the death of the river due to lack of oxygen. almost all fish, the Prefecture of Seine-et-Marne issued two orders this Saturday 1^is November 2024.

The most spectacular measure is the emptying of the reaches (portion of canal between two locks, editor's note) of Beaumoulin, Buttes, Bagneaux-sur-Loing and finally Chaintréauville: “ This maneuver will be carried out gradually over 25 days, and will be accompanied by the implementation of daily measurements of the quality of the water flowing into the Loing.

The second decree, aimed at facilitating emptying and removal of dead fish operations, prohibits access to the banks of the canal in the communes of Château-Landon, Souppes-sur-Loing, la Madeleine-sur-Loing and Bagneaux- sur-Loing.

All week, different stakeholders tried to save as many fish as possiblewhether employees of the municipality of Bagneaux-sur-Loing, firefighters who came as reinforcements but also fishing enthusiasts. A real surge of solidarity was created, with appeals on social networks. But if fish were able to be saved, the disaster is real. The mayor of Bagneaux-sur-Loing, who filed a complaint against X on behalf of the municipality, estimates that 3 tonnes of dead fish were collected.

Meanwhile, water analyzes continue, and the Prefecture assures that they have not made it possible to “formally characterize the source of this pollution”. This Friday, she did not notice no “improvement of the situation”.

We're going to have rotten egg smells in Nemours

Between the need to open the lock valves to oxygenate the water to help the fish survive, and the risk of moving the pollution, the week was more than complicated for all those involved. The mayor of Nemours Valérie Lacroute, this Friday, pleaded for opening the valves as quickly as possible: “We have to stir to provide clean water by opening the locks.We are going to have rotten egg smells that will arrive in Nemours with kilos of rotting fish. It’s urgent.” The Nemours sector is in fact now the most affected, with a “particularly low oxygen level, which is decreasing, leading to fish mortality in this new sector”.

Water analysis operations will continue throughout the weekend, before the start of emptying operations.

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