Jurassian discharge
Basel chemical industry is launching additional sanitation
Sandy areas on the edge of the site require new intervention. About 12,000 m³ of polluted materials will be excavated at Bonfol.
The Basel Chemical Industry (BCI) will carry out an additional sanitation of the former Bonfol industrial discharge, as the state of the Jura announces in a press release published on August 12, 2025. The works, which will start as soon as possible, concern sandy areas located on the edge of the main site, whose sanitation was completed in 2016.
Since 2020, BCI has conducted investigations in these isolated areas within several meters of clay. A risk analysis validated in 2022 by the Office of the Environment (ENV) demonstrated the need for sanitation to guarantee the quality of long -term water. Currently, the waters from these sectors are captured and treated continuously, without any impact being noted on groundwater and surface.
A smaller site
The excavation perimeter will extend over approximately 2000 m² and will be covered by a more limited size hall than that used during main sanitation. This installation will mainly serve to protect the site from bad weather. The handling of mineral materials that does not include risks of explosion, unlike the chemical barrels removed previously, total containment is not necessary.
About 12,000 m³ of sandy lenses will be excavated. Polluted materials will be temporarily stored in the hall before being transported by truck to approved treatment sites in Switzerland, then by train abroad, from Basel. The site will then be backfilled with materials in accordance with legal requirements.
Impact on local traffic
During the six to nine months that the work will last, around fifteen rotations of trucks per day are planned. The bypass track of the village of Bonfol, created during main sanitation, will be used to limit nuisance. The company Marti Infra AG, which had already successfully achieved the main sanitation, was mandated for these new works.
The excavation work is being started, following the green light from the Federal Environment Office (OFEV). After the backfilling, the site will be reforested according to the special cantonal plan. Environmental monitoring will then be set up to check the achievement of sanitation targets.
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