“Faster research needed into increased PFAS values ​​in groundwater on the Waregem-Kruisem border”

According to an action group, an old landfill has never been cleaned up. There will be a community information meeting next week.

Underneath the new distribution center along the Meirestraat at the intersection of Waregem with Kruisem and Zulte is what an action committee calls it ‘a PFAS bomb’. Filip De Bodt : VZW CLIMAXI: “until last year you had the remains of an old landfill here, which has been causing pollution since 1985. During a routine investigation into PFAS, it was found that this is up to 16 times above the remediation standard. With 4,000 piles into the groundwater. And yet, in the same month, it was decided to build on them. In principle, the building permit states: if the pollution expands, you must also start remediation. And that remediation never happened.”

Also other toxins

Not only PFAS, but also other toxic substances are found in the soil and therefore also in the groundwater. In August there will be an additional investigation by the waste company OVAM to see how widely the pollution has spread and what the health risks are for local residents. Too late, thinks municipal councilor Simon Wemel van Groen Waregem, who already asked the question in December. Simon Wemel, Groen Waregem: “I’m not a specialist, but research has taught me that these are substances that are quite carcinogenic. But I feel that additional research is not a priority, it will not follow soon enough. So I think that a city there can put more speed behind it and put some more pressure on the Flemish Government to make it work faster.”

The city of Waregem only responds in writing and says that the problem lies in Kruisem and that it does not want to cause panic. The city did send letters to local residents. “A number of people have received the message that they will not use water tomorrow and should be careful with vegetables. Now the situation is so unclear. So we say: we are not going to wait six months before we take new measures.”

Next Thursday, the action group is already organizing an information meeting for local residents.