“Fat residues are apparently piled up in an overflow and this comes into effect when there is heavy rainfall,” explains Mieke Syssauw, Alderman for the Environment. “Then the grease from the overflow goes with the rainwater in the Leie.”
Permit
The fire brigade contained the gunk on Sunday evening and will clean it up on Monday. The costs are borne by the polluter, according to the city of Menen. The company involved has now submitted an application for a permanent treatment plant, but the permit has not yet been obtained.
“I live in Wervikstraat, on the corner near Galloo and we can smell it from there,” says another local resident Sofie Lycke. “We sit outside in the evening when the weather is nice, this morning I got up and I smelled it. It’s not normal anymore. Is it worse than last time? Yes, I think so.”
