Credit: AGE
Luxembourg's Water Management Authority (Administration de la gestion de l'eau - AGE) has announced that a tributary of the Nothomb river was polluted after a manure spill on Tuesday.
This pollution was caused by a manure spill following a technical problem at an agricultural site located in Holtz, in western Luxembourg. The Nothomb river crosses Belgian territory and then flows into the Attert river.
AGE agents and units of the Grand-Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (Corps grand-ducal d'incendie et de secours - CGDIS) intervened in Holtz and Colpach-Bas in response to this pollution. The Grand-Ducal Police and the prosecution of the district court of Diekirch were also on the scene.
In order to limit the spread of the polluting wave in the rivers downstream, natural absorbents were placed in the stream and part of the polluted water was sucked up. In addition, AGE agents of the Administration set up, in collaboration with the CGDIS and the Syndicat des eaux résiduaires du Nord (SIDEN), aerators in the Attert river to limit the impact of pollution on aquatic flora and fauna.
Water samples were taken in several places by the AGE and the Grand Ducal Police. The Belgian authorities were informed of the incident.
