Meuse River Pollution: Drinking Water Companies Sound Alarm Over Unmonitored Toxic Discharges
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands – The Meuse River,a vital source of drinking water for 7 million people, is facing a growing pollution crisis, with companies discharging unknown quantities of toxic substances into its waters, accordingto a new report by RIWA-Maas, a collaboration of Dutch drinking water companies.
The report, released on Monday, highlights the alarming lack oftransparency surrounding industrial discharges into the Meuse. While companies are required to obtain permits for wastewater discharge, many of these permits are outdated and incomplete, failing to specify the full range of substances being released. This means that numerous toxic chemicals are beingdumped into the river without proper monitoring or record-keeping.
We are concerned about the lack of clarity regarding the substances being discharged into the Meuse, said a spokesperson for RIWA-Maas. This makes it difficult toassess the full extent of the pollution and to take effective measures to protect the water quality.
The report specifically points to the growing problem of PFAS, a group of persistent, mobile, and toxic substances (PMT substances) that are extremely difficult to remove from water. These chemicals are known to be harmful to human healthand the environment, and their presence in the Meuse is a serious cause for concern.
About half of the PFAS pollution in the Meuse happens after the river flows into the Netherlands from Belgium, the report states. This highlights the need for international cooperation to address this issue.
RIWA-Maas is calling for a comprehensive overview of all industrial discharges into the Meuse, both direct and indirect, across the entire international river basin. The organization believes that a single authority should be responsible for monitoring and regulating these discharges to ensure the protection of the Meuse’s water quality.
We need a clear pictureof what is being dumped into the river and where it is coming from, said the RIWA-Maas spokesperson. Only then can we effectively address the problem and prevent further contamination.
The Meuse pollution issue echoes a similar concern raised by RIWA-Rijn, a collaboration of Dutch drinking water companies thatrely on the Rhine River. Last week, RIWA-Rijn urged Germany to take action against PFAS dumping into the Rhine, highlighting the transboundary nature of water pollution and the need for international cooperation.
The Meuse River is a vital resource for millions of people, providing drinking water, irrigation, and recreationalopportunities. The growing pollution threat poses a serious risk to the health of the river and its surrounding communities.
The Dutch government, through Rijkswaterstaat, is responsible for issuing permits for industrial discharges in the Netherlands. However, RIWA-Maas argues that a more comprehensive approach is needed, involving all stakeholders alongthe entire Meuse River basin, to effectively address the pollution problem.
The situation calls for urgent action to ensure the long-term health of the Meuse River and the communities that depend on it. This includes improving monitoring and regulation of industrial discharges, promoting the development of sustainable industrial practices, and fostering international cooperation toaddress transboundary pollution issues.
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