Pollution Turns Molenbeek Stream in Ronse Black

Molenbeek (Eurotoday) – The Molenbeek stream in Ronse has turned black, prompting environmental concerns and an official investigation. Patrice Dutranoit, the city’s alderman for the environment, has reported the incident to the province of East Flanders and is awaiting the results of their inquiry. While Utexbel, a company located near the stream, is under public suspicion, no direct blame has been assigned at this stage.

Local residents have expressed alarm over the discoloration of the stream, which environmental activists highlighted by sharing images online. City officials responded quickly, alerting provincial authorities in hopes of identifying the cause and assessing the severity of the pollution.

“We immediately informed the province of East Flanders, so we are now waiting for a response from that side,” said Alderman Dutranoit.

Is Utexbel behind Molenbeek pollution in Ronse?

Although Utexbel’s proximity to the affected area has led some to suspect the company’s involvement, Dutranoit emphasized that it’s too early to draw conclusions. “It is easy to point fingers due to the location, but we must first conduct a thorough investigation,” he noted, adding that premature accusations could be misleading without evidence.

“The Molenbeek runs through our city for a distance of 10 kilometres, so it is difficult to point to one party as the cause of the pollution,” he stated.

Dutranoit also clarified that Utexbel does not operate in the specific part of the Molenbeek where the contamination was first observed. Although Utexbel employees visited the scene, the company could not confirm any link between their own activities and the pollution. As a precaution, Utexbel has announced plans to engage an independent scientific expert to investigate the matter further.

In parallel, Utexbel confirmed that it is constructing a new waste treatment plant, which is expected to begin operations in June 2025. The project had previously faced delays due to legal disputes with local residents and environmental advocates. Nevertheless, construction is now underway, with the aim of improving the company’s environmental impact and compliance.