Stocamine: French toxic waste site threatens Europe’s key water source

Thousands of tonnes of toxic waste lie buried beneath one of Europe’s most important groundwater reserves in the town of Wittelsheim in France’s Alsace region. French authorities decided in June to permanently seal waste from the former Stocamine potash mine at the site, claiming there was not sufficient time to remove it safely. But scientists and advocacy groups strongly oppose the decision, fearing the chemicals could seep into the water supply of the Upper Rhine aquifer.