Two complaints were filed Wednesday August 5 in Perpignan, one for " poisoning ", the other for " negligence ", following the discovery of pesticide in the water supplying a village in the Pyrénées-Orientales, told the AFP counsel for the plaintiffs.
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Following the pollution of a river, the 900 inhabitants of Tautavel have been deprived of drinking water for two months. The plaintiffs lawyer Me Jean Codognès specifies that two complaints were filed: one against X for " poisoning " so that an investigation can determine the origin, the second for " negligence " targets Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole, manager of the network of drinkable.
"Public negligence"
The lawyer points to “ a conjunction of several issues: first, the pumping facilities are not up to standard, classified as fragile and vulnerable, the catchment area must be modified since 2012, but nothing has been done. There is negligence on the part of the public authorities ”. “ Then,” he adds, “we suspect one or more winegrowers either to have used these prohibited chemicals, or to have emptied vats containing these products in unsuitable areas ”, which would have ended in the river that crosses the village, the Verdouble.
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" The analyzes reveal the presence of several pesticide molecules, namely fluxapyroxad, a fungicide, thiametoxam, an insecticide active substance of the neonicotinoids family, atrazine and therbuthylazine, the use of which is prohibited by decree No. 2018-675 July 30, 2018 ”, underline in their complaint the three associations.
Call to stop drinking tap water
For LR president of Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole, Robert Vila, a return to normal is scheduled for August 10. “ The regional health agency carried out analyzes which showed that the water was not consumable. Today, he says, the analyzes are more and more reassuring, we are getting closer to something normal. (...) We hope that around August 10 the situation will be normal again ”. Since June 10 and the call to stop consuming tap water, Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole has been distributing free bottles of water to the inhabitants of Tautavel.
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It is “ a routine analysis (which) revealed the significant presence of pesticides, generally used in the agricultural world. We had repeatedly warned of the fragility of the treatment station , "said AFP Giselle Santana, of the Pyrénées-Orientales delegation of the Regional Health Agency (ARS). This week, in an emergency, “ a mobile treatment station was installed, with an activated carbon filter, which allows the molecules present in the water to be retained, but the problem is not resolved in the long term. The long-term solution is an investment of several million euros, ”adds the ARS expert.
"Carcinogenic" products
“ We cannot suspect a voluntary act, we must identify the culprit to put an end to these practices. These are hyper dangerous, carcinogenic products, ”warns Patrick Marcotte, local spokesperson for EELV and the collective Alternative aux pesticides 66, one of the complainant associations. The two other associations to have lodged a complaint are the Association of water users of the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Tautavelloise Association for information and protection.
“ We regret the laissez-faire attitude of the former municipality when the renovation of the catchment was 80% subsidized. We must relaunch the debate on the development of organic viticulture, 20% of the vineyard is organic in the department, it is an exceptional terroir, we must protect this magnificent AOC (AOC Côtes du Roussillon Villages-Tautavel) ”, pleads the environmentalist.
