Pfas Ruddervoorde: 500 families limited in water use

The Public Waste Agency has measured increased Pfas values ​​near the fire station. This is probably a historical contamination, and contaminated extinguishing foam ended up in the groundwater during exercises by the fire brigade.

Radius of 500 meters

All residents who live within a radius of half a kilometer of the Ruddervoorde barracks have received a letter containing information about the pollution. PFAS can damage the immune system and cause cancer. The soil itself is not contaminated, but the well water is. OVAM must now conduct further investigations, which could take up to a year.

Precautions

Nele Cools of the Communications Department in Oostkamp: “Further research still needs to be done. But in the meantime we are taking a number of precautions. These are that people are not allowed to use their well or groundwater as drinking water. That is not recommended in any case.

You are also not allowed to fill your swimming pool or water your vegetables with it.” – Can the local residents eat their own vegetables, and eggs from their free-range chickens? “They can do that. If they don’t water their vegetables with well water, they can work in the garden and eat their own vegetables. Eggs are no problem either.”