The city of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve said on Friday that underground pollution detected between the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park and Lauzelle Boulevard did not affect the quality of the area's tap water.
A “pollution plume” of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) has had an impact on the deep groundwater, but there are no active wells in this area, according to the municipal authorities.
In November 2023, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve’s municipal council imposed a ban on using well water and digging new wells near Einstein Science Park due to chloroform pollution discovered earlier.
On 28 May, the council plans to vote to expand this perimeter after further investigations by Wallonia’s Public Service for Groundwater Management, assisted by the Public Corporation for Environmental Quality.
Investigations detected a vintage pollution plume of PCE affecting deep groundwater (between 30-60 meters) over an area of 59 hectares, from the science park to Lauzelle Boulevard.
“None of the pollution plumes involves active wells used for drinking water supply," the city explained. "The public has never been directly exposed to water contaminated with chloroform and PCE in the past and won’t be in the future, thanks to the ban zone and management measures in place.
"Considering the water table’s depth, the risk of inhaling chloroform and PCE vapours arising from the plumes has also been eliminated,” the city clarified.
Residents and landowners within the perimeter will soon be informed by letter and the city will invite them to an information meeting in June.
