The pesticide levels in the drinking water in several Flemish municipalities exceeded the norm in the last six months, but this was not reported in time. An investigation is now being launched into errors in reporting the drinking water quality.
The safety standards were exceeded in the Blankaart/Gavers/Zillebeke water catchment area (in the East Flanders and West Flanders provinces) for the May 2022-November 2023 period, Belga News Agency reports.
However, the impact this will have on people's health is not thought to be a health concern and no ill effects are expected. Still, Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir called the situation unacceptable.
"We cannot be lax about drinking water quality. This must be investigated in detail, and De Watergroep must do everything possible to prevent this from happening again," she said.
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De Watergroep drinking water company will be placed under enhanced supervision and an audit will be launched to review the process and check whether the action taken in the meantime is sufficient. Additional audits will also be held at the other drinking water companies.
The cause of the pollution is thought to be excessive pesticide use in agriculture in the West Flanders water catchment area. Demir said this shows that pesticide use in Flanders needs to be reduced.
The Water Group is the largest water extraction company in Flanders, supplying drinking water to 3.3 million customers in 177 Flemish municipalities spread across the provinces of West Flanders, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant and Limburg.
