It does not appear that the Hunze en Aa’s water board and the Association of Village Interests Grolloo en Omstreek (VDGO) have already come closer in their views on research into the water quality of the Grote Moere.
After research, the water board found that the water in the former sand extraction lake near Grolloo meets the standards for surface water. VDGO is critical of that research, because the water board itself is responsible for the quality of the water.
Hunze en Aa’s would like to possibly conduct the research again and involve the VDGO, but then the village interest group must state in advance that it will trust the research results. And that’s where the shoe pinches.
VDGO feels pressured by the water board due to the requirement to endorse the measurement results of Hunze and Aa’s, it became clear last night during the municipal meeting of Aa and Hunze. Two members of the village interest group complained to the council about the state of affairs surrounding the Grote Moere.
The association finds it incredible that the water board only took a water sample at one location. “The water board then demands that VDGO must comply with its analysis. Otherwise, they will not cooperate in further research,” says Oncko Burghgraef of VDGO.
The water board resolutely rejects that there is any partiality. “Research that we have conducted meets the requirements set for it,” said a spokesperson. For this reason, the water board considers it unnecessary to have another party conduct a new water study.
That really hurts the residents of Grolloo. They insist on an independent investigation. “To find out once and for all whether something is wrong. If that is not the case, we can look further into the future of the area,” says Burghgraef.
Over the past ten years, owner Staatsbosbeheer has dumped soil in the Grote Moere to transform the sand extraction lake into a nature and recreation area. After research by VDGO, it appears that the soil has been dumped there without a permit all these years.
The municipality then stopped work to find out what went wrong and what should be done in the future around the Grote Moere. VDGO fears that the lake is contaminated and demanded research into the soil and water.