Judicial inspection begins for Encarnación's sewage pumping stations amid malfunction claims

A judicial inspection has begun in Encarnación, Paraguay, to assess the state of the city's sewage pumping stations. The inspection is part of a lawsuit filed by the Municipality against the Yacyretá Binational Entity (EBY) and the state-owned water company Essap, citing the stations' failure to operate.

The legal action highlights concerns over the city's sewage network, which is supposed to direct wastewater to a treatment plant. During the inspection, the first station visited, located near the Quiteria stream, was found to be completely out of service, lacking both equipment and an electrical connection.

Representatives from EBY attributed the lack of functionality to "constant thefts" targeting the infrastructure. Meanwhile, municipal officials and council members are participating in the inspection, seeking accountability from the involved entities. Councilman Keiji Ishibashi emphasized the need for institutions to take action, noting that while the Municipality has a role in controlling discharges, the impact of non-functioning pumping stations is far greater.

The situation has also drawn attention to environmental concerns, with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Mades) reportedly notifying the municipality of potential fines shortly after the lawsuit was filed. The Municipality aims to ensure the pumping stations are operational to begin reversing the environmental damage caused by untreated sewage.

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We must ensure the operation of the pumping stations to reverse the situation. When we stop polluting, there will be...