Subsequent to lightning striking the wastewater pumping station at a specialty chemicals plant, the remote alarm on the retention tank was damaged. The circuit-breaker was also activated: the lift pumps were shut down. This tank overflowed and approx. 150 m³ of untreated cystine effluent (poultry feather extract) poured into the Les Noës stream. Water quality was adversely affected all the way to the confluence with the La Claie River; no significant consequences however could be detected on the local fish population.