2023-12-20 06:15:02
The Eau rescue 31 association held a press point on December 19 in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne). She particularly regretted “a lack of transparency” on water quality, particularly in the metropolis of the Pink City.
“It is a shame that the delegatee does not provide more precise information on what is happening”expresses Lucien Sanchez, co-president of the Eau Secours 31 association.
There were several volunteers from the structure for water service users who were present for a press point on December 19 at the Labor Exchange in Toulouse.
If the question of water pricing was on the agenda, the volunteers also wanted to raise awareness regarding the “lack of transparency” on another issue: that of water quality in the metropolis.
In question, the comments coming from an internal email to the ARS, from the director of the Occitanie Regional Health Agency, Didier Jaffre, broadcast by Le Canard chainé on October 18. “Very clearly, we are going to have to change our approach and our discourse, there are PFAS [substances poly ou perfluoroalkylées] and metabolites everywhere”indicated the person concerned in his letter. PFAS are “ synthetic chemical compounds” used “in industrial applications and in consumer products”. Metabolites are materials from phytosanitary solutions..
“It was an internal email, having no informational value, which contained a personal and succinct note-taking,” Didier Jaffre subsequently responded to the local daily La Dépêche du midi.
Volunteers from the Eau rescue 31 association held a press briefing on December 19. • © Eloïse Bussy / France Télévisions
Following these comments, volunteers said they sought more information on water quality in the area. Concerning the sites which might be impacted in the sector by these pollutants, the association indicates “not having encrypted data”.
“We know that the ARS is carrying out a series of research, but this is not made public”, expresses Lucien Sanchez. He presents the annual report of the delegate in charge of drinking water in Toulouse, Setom, created by Véolia. On the latter, it is indicated that “following the latest opinion from ANSES (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, Editor’s note.) […]two additional molecules were classified as relevant metabolites”. “There is no other analysis data in it”regrets Lucien Sanchez.
“The ARS does a certain amount of research, but this research is not made public,” added the volunteer.
The vice-president of the metropolis of Toulouse, Robert Médina, for his part, indicated to La Dépatch du Midi that there was no “no pollutants eternal, the famous perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS)” in tap water in Toulouse.
Also read: Controversy. Danger of “eternal pollutants” in water: an email “taken out of context” according to the director of ARS Occitanie
“We are considering going further in our actions in the future”expresses the co-president of the Eau rescue 31 association.
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