EBY Blocks Judicial Inspection of Encarnación's Sewage System with Legal Challenge

A planned judicial inspection of the sewage pumping stations in Encarnación, Paraguay, has been halted after the Binational Entity Yacyretá (EBY) filed an exception of incompetence. The inspection was initiated as part of a legal injunction filed by the municipality against EBY and the Paraguayan Sanitary Services Company (Essap) concerning the city's sewage system.

The municipality of Encarnación had sought the inspection to monitor the functionality of the sewage network's pumping stations, which are managed by EBY. This action followed a complaint lodged on July 13, alleging that several pumps were malfunctioning, potentially leading to the discharge of untreated sewage into local waterways. The injunction requested the court to compel both EBY and Essap to repair the sewage system, citing non-operational pumps that require replacement.

EBY's legal representatives submitted the exception of incompetence to the court, asserting that the entity's domicile in Asunción and Buenos Aires means that any legal proceedings should fall under the jurisdiction of courts in those capitals. This procedural defense argues that the judge in Encarnación lacks the legal authority to preside over the case. The filing also included documentation of eight incidents between 2024 and 2025 where EBY's pumping stations were reportedly damaged due to theft of cables and equipment, contributing to their alleged disrepair.