Last summer there was concern in Zeeland about the possible presence of pfas in the Western Scheldt. That was after it came to light that chemical group 3M in Zwijndrecht, Belgium, near Antwerp, had been discharging pfas into the Scheldt for years. The soil in the vicinity of the factory is also polluted.
discharge water
RIVM has found too many pfas in water that is discharged into the Western Scheldt near Bath. More pfas was measured in the discharge water from the sewage treatment plant than at Berkendonk in Helmond. Whether swimming in water with this amount of pfas can lead to health consequences has not been studied.
In the coming months, Rijkswaterstaat will conduct further research into pfas at three different swimming spots near Perkpolder, Baarland and Vlissingen. RIVM will assist Rijkswaterstaat with the interpretation of the new measurement results.
‘Pfas in Westerschelde no reason to stop depoldering’
Minister Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management was in Zeeland today to talk to concerned residents about the amount of pfas in the Western Scheldt. For example, farmers are afraid that their groundwater is contaminated with pfas that comes from the Western Scheldt.
Moreover, they fear that these substances will also end up in the Hedwigepolder if it is flooded. The hope is that the Hedwigepolder will not be depoldered before the consequences for public health have been properly investigated Broadcasting Zeeland.
Harbers sees no reason to stop the depoldering for the time being. “I look closely at what it does for water quality and the first reports were that it makes no difference to water quality whether you depolder or not,” said Harbers. Strictly speaking with regard to water quality, that means there is no reason to start the project now on hold to put.”
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