2023-11-09 21:06:22
The Walloon Minister of the Environment, Céline Tellier (Ecolo) had refused a filmed interview at the time of the investigation. Today, she agreed to answer questions from our journalist Emmanuel Morimont following the magazine’s revelations (#Investigation). The minister spoke following a meeting with representatives of seven municipalities, including Ath, Chièvres, Beloeil, Leuze-en-Hainaut, Mons, Ecaussines and Seneffe. Representatives of the Walloon Water Company (SWDE) and the Walloon Public Service (SPW) were also present at this meeting.
“We took stock, at the same time, of this different information for all of the municipalities concerned by the report. And then, also, begin to develop an action plan which will constitute, first in a scientific aspect of increasing our level of information in relation to the presence of these PFAS in the environment and then also a component information to citizens.”
Does the minister understand today the disappointment, sometimes the anger, of certain citizens regarding the lack of transparency of public authorities, regardless of the level of power?
“I completely understand the very legitimate request and above all the wish to do otherwise. I discussed it completely openly and quite clearly with the SWDE this morning. And they have decided to review their procedure in this area for the future in order to ensure that information can reach citizens and the municipalities concerned as soon as the future standard is exceeded. Even if this standard does not yet exist.”
Finally, note that following the broadcast of the RTBF investigation, several municipalities suspended the distribution of drinking water in certain schools. Particularly in Leuze-en-Hainaut, Ath and Chièvres. The mayor of the latter commune also issued an order to suspend the distribution of water from the contaminated well, despite the fact that it was equipped with activated carbon filters which made it possible to lower the concentrations below the future standard.
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