Around noon, fire-fighters discovered pollution entering the ORBIQUET River. The firm responsible for this situation was identified and alerted 90 min later. The site operator stopped the leak within a few minutes thereafter.

The accident occurred subsequent to the bursting of an underground pipeline conveying residual industrial water from the “milk acceptance” unit of a dairy producer. This untreated coloured effluent containing milk was basic (with a pH near 9), following an injection of soda at the beginning of the week. The water then reached, via infiltration, a manhole on the stormwater drainage system whose outlet was the ORBIQUET River.

An inflatable ball was installed in order to plug the stormwater network. The effluent pumped into the manhole mentioned above was discharged on the premises. The sand filters treating the stormwater prior to disposal were cleaned. The whitish surface deposits observed at the level of the water discharge point were also scoured clean.

Beyond the river’s visual pollution and despite the basic pH of the discharge, no impact was recorded on aquatic fauna. Complementary investigations proved necessary to assessing eventual soil pollution.

Installations returned to normal operating conditions. The accident was caused by a worn industrial wastewater network (due to ageing). The classified facilities inspectorate requested a detailed report in addition to a full-scale audit of the water networks so as to verify the state of repair and undertake all needed remedial actions. A soil evaluation was also ordered, along with eventual ground cleanup.