New oil spill in the Naviglio at Robecco sul Naviglio

A week after the enormous slick of hydrocarbons reached the Darsena in Milan, a new spill was recorded in the Naviglio. The report was made in the hamlet of Cascinazza, in Robecco sul Naviglio, and according to Cap, the green utility that manages the water service in the metropolitan city of Milan, the action would be malicious.

The communication of the Cap

"This is an episode attributable to a malicious action, at the moment it is not possible to establish with certainty where and how the substances were introduced into the network. It is in fact an external and unpredictable event", said Green which sent its technicians "to support the containment operations and checks by the competent authorities". “The precise reconstruction of the dynamics and origin of the discharge can only be defined upon completion of the checks and controls currently underway by the relevant authorities”, states a note which underlines that the flows are continuously monitored.

The spill occurred during the night between 5 and 6 September

Just a few days ago, a large oily slick, referred to in various reports as diesel or used oil, spread for approximately 28 kilometers along the Navigli system. A spill occurred during scheduled sewerage maintenance works in Magenta and which, little by little, spread to Milan. The oil spill caused serious damage to flora and fauna despite monitoring and operations to safeguard the ecosystem. Among the rescued animals was also a mute swan, hospitalized at the Lipu-La Fagiana center in Magenta.

Removing barriers

The main emergency activities following last week's oil spill were concluded this morning. As reported by Ecoroe, the environmental services company involved in the recovery and reclamation operations, specifying that 76 operators and 50 vehicles were involved, engaged in the various phases of securing, containment, suction, collection and transport of the contaminated materials.

At the end of the operations, approximately 550 tonnes of liquid and solid waste were collected and sent for treatment, transferred to the Milan operating platform, which remained active 24 hours a day and where management activities continued.

"These days - commented Luca Raspa, sole director of Ecoroe - have demonstrated how much an environmental emergency of this size requires the ability to react immediately, organization and, above all, collaboration". Yesterday, Friday 11 September, the absorbent barriers installed to contain the pollution were removed. However, navigation remains prohibited for a few days, while the Rowing San Cristoforo events have been authorised, with the necessary precautions.