In a number of back gardens in Gerwen, the starting signal was given for a unique cleaning operation on Thursday afternoon. Ad Donkers lives in Gerwen and in 2018 a well in his garden. Suddenly a huge smell was released. Research showed that it was kerosene from a pipeline from the Second World War. Now eight back gardens have to be dug out considerably to clean it up. “I have been sad,” says resident Katie Dermout.
In the Second World War, the Allies built pipelines under the sea of Great Britain to the European mainland. This is to provide the fast -advancing troops with fuel. Brabant also has a branch. But Ad could not imagine that the pipeline also walked through the garden with him.
“Suddenly a huge smoke with the smell of gasoline.”
“I just came to live there. And I wanted a well in the garden,” says Ad. “But when I groove, a huge smoke suddenly came up with the smell of gasoline.” Ad in his own words, Ad was not really shocked. “I was not impressed,” he laughs. “I have always worked on the farm.”
He did call the municipality. He passed it on to the province, because the contamination by the pipeline turned out not to be wrong. The investigation into what was in the ground and whether there should be remediation took years.
The pipeline, which ran above ground and was temporary, was named Pluto in the war, that stands for Pipeline Under The Ocean. It is not clear how the contamination in Gerwen originated. Perhaps the pipeline was broken, but it could also be that in the harsh winter of 1944 the cold -suffering Brabant population tried to tap something. According to the province, it is not clear whether there is still contamination with kerosene in more places. However, residues have also been found in Aalst and Waalre.
“Lost very large walnut tree.”
But in Gerwen the gardens of eight houses must now be excavated. It concerns a hundred trucks on sand. That is a major operation for the people who live there. It will take until October. Five residents is offered the opportunity to live somewhere else temporarily. According to the province, three families use this offer.
Katie Dermout will be in a holiday home in the coming months. “I came to live here in 2021 and then I was informed of the contamination,” she says. “But I didn’t realize what consequences it would have.” Because Katie’s beautiful big back garden, a fairy tale, has now turned into a sand plain. “I was sad about that. We had a very large walnut tree. We were lost. The tree was too big to move.”
“Appointments are being kept very well.”
In the meantime, the residents have resigned themselves to the situation, say Katie and AD. “It’s the way it is,” says Katie. “And I am very pleased with the entire process so far. Everything is very clear and all agreements have been met so far.” The residents receive a sum of money to recover the garden.
The kerosene is in a floating layer on the groundwater. The province will lead the clean -up operation. According to the province, there is no danger to public health. Fragrance measurements are also being carried out to keep an eye on the stench, but it should only be able to smell up close.