Due to two illegal manure discharges in the Kleine Kemmelbeek, drinking water extraction in Dikkebus was temporarily interrupted. Measuring devices sounded the alarm when fertilizers were detected in the water. The Flemish Environment Agency diverted the contaminated water so that it did not end up in the Dikkebus pond, which is used for drinking water production.
“Water extraction was temporarily stopped as a precaution,” says Ypres councilor for Environment and Water Policy Miguel Gheysens. “Manure is not acutely toxic, but the nutrients can cause problems, such as blue-green algae in the summer. This has an impact on the aquatic environment.”
Research shows that a farmer in Heuvelland dumped manure into the stream twice. The city of Ypres now knows who is responsible; a fine will follow.
