Traces of
toluene
were detected following the analyzes carried out in
L'Aquila
on a sample of water previously stored for checks under the protocol established by Asl, Arta and Gran Sasso Acqua (Gsa) to allow the remaking of the signs inside of the Gran Sasso tunnel along the A24 motorway.
The ban on the use of drinking water has been placed in the territory of the municipality of L'Aquila served by the source of the Gran Sasso, and therefore from the eastern part of the city to the districts of Santa Barbara and Pettino.
The Municipality specifies "the nuclei of Coppito, Roio, San Vittorino, Preturo, Sassa and Arischia are excluded from the ban".
Until a new provision, which will be issued following further checks which will show values compliant with the law, in the areas concerned the water cannot be drunk or used for cooking, but only for personal hygiene and domestic use.
The water flow in the distribution network was immediately interrupted and further checks and investigations are underway, the results of which should arrive during the night, because the presence of the toxic substance was not recorded by the gas chromatograph, a very precise equipment, but by subsequent analyzes on the water sample.
According to what has been learned from sources of the integrated water cycle company Gsa, the basis of the report may have been an error in the results of the analyzes.
The works for the reconstruction of the signs carried out by Strada dei Parchi (SdP) spa, concessionaire of the A24 and A25 motorways, had been carried out for 100 meters.
The protocol is the one officially established during an inspection in the Gran Sasso tunnel by the ASL, dell'Arta, Gsa and the SdP itself.
On the danger of pollution of the aquifer, a trial is underway at the Court of Teramo which sees as accused the leaders of Infn, Strada dei Parchi and Ruzzo Spa, a public company of the integrated water cycle of Teramo.
All this while Corrado Gisonni, commissioner appointed by the Government for the safety of the aquifer,