The Civil Guard has conducted an investigation in Huelva that has resulted in the indictment of three individuals and a company for discharging polluting liquids into the Calaboza riverbank.
SEPRONA agents began the investigation in March after detecting industrial discharges flowing into a natural watercourse. Through technical inspections, they located a hidden pumping system used to evacuate alpechín, a waste product from olive oil production that is highly polluting.
Impact on the environment
The discharged alpechín spread over seven kilometres through dry ravines, reaching the Chanza Reservoir, a dam primarily used for supplying water to the population. Samples taken by the agents confirmed that the contamination levels were consistent with this type of waste.
Alpechín discharges have a high organic matter content, which can cause the death of aquatic ecosystems by consuming all the dissolved oxygen in the water.
Legal consequences
Those responsible for these acts could face prison sentences ranging from six months to two years, in addition to fines and disqualifications. The Civil Guard has submitted the relevant proceedings to the judicial authority and the Environmental Prosecutor's Office of Huelva.
The institution calls for citizen collaboration, urging the public to report any anomalies in water bodies or their surroundings, including suspicious odours or the presence of dead wildlife. Citizens can contact them via phone at 062 or using the AlertCops app.
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