Both the residents and the province are positive about the good cooperation in this impactful project for the residents. The hole has now been filled with clean soil. Thus, the first part of the work has been completed.

In 2020, a resident discovered oil contamination in the soil. Research showed that the soil and groundwater are contaminated.

The cause is likely due to the draining of the Pluto pipeline during World War II. The abbreviation Pluto stands for PipeLine Under The Ocean. This pipeline was used during the war to transport fuel from Great Britain to the Allied troops on the mainland of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

In the Backyard

The contaminated soil was located in the backyards of several residents on Gerwenseweg and Kerkakkers. To remove the contamination from the soil, property boundaries, sheds, and planting in gardens were removed. In the gardens, the top layer was excavated under the supervision of an archaeologist. This is the soil layer that may contain archaeological remains or traces that are valuable for studying the past. Subsequently, a large hole over 4 meters deep was excavated under environmental supervision. The excavated topsoil was stored at a temporary depot location. The contaminated subsoil was immediately removed in closed trucks. After completion, the excavation was filled with clean topsoil and clean soil brought in from elsewhere.

More Work Than Expected

The excavation of the contaminated soil took more time than previously thought. It turned out that the contaminated area was larger than previously estimated. Additionally, Japanese knotweed was found at the site. This plant can cause significant damage to foundations and sewage systems. To prevent the further spread of this harmful plant, careful handling was required. This took extra time.

Completion of Work

The earthworks, which started in March of this year, have been completed and the site has been cleared. An underground drainage system has been installed to purify groundwater. The contaminated groundwater is being transported to a purification facility outside the remediation area. This facility pumps up groundwater, cleans it, and returns the water back to the ground. The facility will remain in place until the end of 2025. Residents are not inconvenienced by this facility. In early September, the project team will celebrate with the residents that the project has been completed.

Extent of Contamination

The contamination does not extend beyond the backyards on Gerwenseweg and Kerkakkers. Limited oil contamination from the former Pluto pipeline has been found in other areas of Brabant (Aalst and Waalre), but not elsewhere in Brabant. When a complaint comes in, such as at Gerwenseweg-Kerkakkers, it is responded to. This means that the province has not actively inspected the former pipeline route and will not do so.

The Role of the Province

The province is the competent authority because it concerns the remediation of a historical soil contamination (occurring before 1975) for which no responsible party can be identified. The province acts as a safety net to remediate such contaminations. The remediation is financed through the safety net financing Soil Protection Act (Wbb). This financing is intended for serious cases of soil contamination that pose a risk to health or the environment and for which remediation is urgent.