It’s water… or almost. Microplastic levels deemed “immeasurable” have been found in the mineral waters Contrex and Hépar, according to an investigation by Mediapart. Nestlé Waters, the owner of these brands, is now facing a legal proceeding. The suit accuses the multinational of allowing enormous quantities of plastic waste to infiltrate the Vosges aquifers.
For investigators, this is the accumulation of open-air dumps, the equivalent of 126 Olympic-sized pools of abandoned plastic, that would have contaminated the sources. Result? Astounding concentrations of microplastics: more than 2,000 particles per liter in Hépar, versus “only” 515 for Contrex. Astronomical figures compared to lakes, rivers, or groundwater worldwide. Nestlé disputes these figures, but in the face of this new scandal, many are beginning to question…
Hépar, Contrex: Alarmingly High Levels of Contamination
To sum up: we’re talking about open plastic dumps that have polluted soils, surface waters, and groundwater around the production sites. These wastes would come from illegal deposits in Vosges municipalities. The quantities? Colossal, and the resulting microplastic pollution is deemed catastrophic.
The measured levels are dizzying: up to 1.3 million times more particles than in natural environments. While health risks for humans have not yet been formally established, several studies already point to their possible accumulation in the body, as well as inflammatory or hormonal effects. In short, the warning is more than serious.
Nestlé denies it all… but the legal battle is underway
On its side, Nestlé Waters rejects the accusations. It says that all official analyses submitted to authorities found no contamination. It even asserts that the water remains “fully drinkable”. The company also notes that it has cleaned “the majority of the sites.”
But the justice system is moving forward: a trial is scheduled in November before the Nancy criminal court. The case isn’t limited to microplastics. It points to broader practices: illegal drilling, questionable filtration systems, political pressure…
But this Contrex and Hépar water scandal isn’t just a numbers game. It raises questions about the trust we place in our bottled mineral waters. On one hand, astronomically high microplastic levels, enough to make consumers tremble. On the other, a multinational that disputes the figures, yet whose past practices have been dogged by controversy.
So, if you were holding a bottle, this scandal already makes you want to read the label… or better yet, turn to a well-filtered tap.
