The Matanza-Riachuelo river basin in the city and province Buenos Aires (Argentina) qualifies as a real sanitary and environmental disaster. Not only is the water contaminated, but the air and soil are also polluted. Furthermore, the seven million people who live in this 2000 km2 area have a very low standard of living in the country, with two million living below the poverty line.

The river basin’s condition is shameful: 35 % of people lack fresh drinking water, 55 % do not have a sewerage system, and there are more than 100 illegal open air garbage dumps. The Neighbourhood Association of La Boca (AVB in Spanish) says this is the only ecological catastrophe in the world that has lasted for more than two decades, while the State did absolutely nothing to avoid it.

Ironically, they say they are not polluting the area

More than 3000 industrial units are located in an area of 64 kilometres reaching from Cañuelas to Boca, of which just 65 are responsible for 80% of the industrial contamination. Chemical, pharmaceutical and petrochemical units are responsible for almost a third of this 80% being dumped in the river; the meat and dairy industry cause 21%, food and non- alcoholic beverage industries (14%), paper mill and textiles (11%), metallurgic (7%) and animal skins (3 %).

All these industries claim that they are not exceeding the legal limits. However, studies done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Argentina have found that children in the region have five times the standard norm for chrome and lead levels in their bodies. Child mortality is twice as high as in the rest of the Buenos Aires province.

About 4,500 of the residents live in a part of the river valley that has become known as Villa Inflamable, close by a major Shell refinery and other petro-chemical plants. It got its name because if you drop a match, the ground is said to ignite!. A study by the Avellaneda municipality and the national government found that 50 % of the children there had lead in their blood, while many also had chrome, toluene and benzene in their urine.

Armando Tisera, from the La Boca neighbourhood on the banks of the Riachuelo River said, “Every river is a source of life but this river is a synonym for death. Governments have come and gone, but the Riachuelo waters continue to be black and dirty.”

Riachuelo waters continue to be black and dirty. Photo: Pablo Corradi

Setting up sanitation systems in these conditions is more than just a technical problem. Bad faith and inefficiency by various politicians have hindered many initiatives aimed at improving conditions in Matanza-Riachuelo. Instead of applying common sense, they put their personal interests and profits first and let the region suffer.

Even when there are sincere political intentions, adequate funding will be essential, and an effective territorial agreement must be signed. To allow this hydrological system to recover it is imperative to prevent further contamination. This means running a solid awareness campaign so their people understand their own role in the use and enjoyment of this quality resource. Information, awareness and education networks must be formed to carry this out.

Supreme Court ruling

In 2006, the Supreme Court made a ruling in a case brought by local people, ordering the State, the Buenos Aires province, and the City to prevent and repair environmental damage to the river basin. The ruling also covered responsibility for planning and implementing sanitation in the area. It was recommended that responsibility for monitoring sanitation plans should be carried by a body comprizing state actors, foundations and citizens, which would also encourage citizen participation and control. This consists of the national Ombudsmana as well as NGOs, such as Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN), the Centre for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), Greenpeace and the Neighbourhood Association of La Boca (AVB).

Since the ruling, a number of factories have been closed, although it appears that little of the international money pledged to clean up the river basin has been used for that purpose. However, the Supreme Court ruling is an opportunity to meet commitments and to implement a state environmental policy that offers concrete answers.

This Matanza-Riachuelo case can be seen as a turning point for the Gran Buenos Aires region, and as an opportunity for greater awareness for urban, economic, industrial and ecological development and above all social development. Water is a social asset, and access to safe, clean water is a fundamental human right.

Carolina Estebarena and Federico Caeiro

Both authors are member of the environmental team of the civic coalition

Pictures and maps: http://acumar.gov.ar

Tags: latin america & caribbean, participatory management, policies & legislation, sewerage, water quality