PFAS contamination issues reported in Belgium and the Netherlands

In Belgium, authorities have lifted 'no regret' measures in Sint-Joris following the completion of an extensive investigation into PFAS contamination at a dredge spoil landfill in Vaart-Zuid. While the study confirmed serious PFAS contamination at the site, the risks are contained within a specific area buffered by the Ghent-Ostend Canal. Consequently, residents are no longer advised to limit the consumption of home-grown vegetables, eggs, or the use of well water. Vlaamse Waterweg nv will develop a soil remediation project for the contaminated site.

In the Netherlands, Waterbedrijf Groningen is calling for an immediate ban on PFAS within the European Union to protect drinking water sources. The company reports increasing levels of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a short-chain PFAS compound, in sources such as the Drentsche Aa and deep groundwater. Although current tap water meets all legal safety standards, the company warns that TFA is persistent and difficult to remove through purification processes. Waterbedrijf Groningen argues that prevention is more effective than treatment, as removing these substances requires significant energy, chemicals, and water.