Wastewater Spill from Mare-Chicose Dump: River Contaminated for 3 km!

Last week, residents of the villages of Mare-Chicose, Riche-en-Eau, and Rivière des-Créoles witnessed a disturbing sight: dark wastewater from the Mare-Chicose landfill flowed into the river, affecting a stretch of 3 kilometers. This has become a recurring issue during heavy rains. Videos shared on social media by village councilor Nitin Jeeha highlight the severity of the pollution.

“The consortium Sotravic/Strata, which manages the Mare-Chicose site, promised to address the problem, but this is the third time since 2022 that we have helplessly watched this ecological disaster unfold,” Jeeha stated.

The situation in Mare-Chicose and its neighboring villages reflects the struggles of a community facing ongoing environmental challenges.

Over the past decade, residents have dealt with smoke and unpleasant odors from fires at the landfill.

Now, the recent spill of wastewater, caused by heavy rains on May 22 and 23, has added to their woes. Almost exactly three years ago, a similar incident occurred in the same river.

Concerned about the presence of a black substance in the water, residents of Riche-en-Eau and councilor Nitin Jeeha sought to investigate.

Jeeha noted, “The unusual color of the water and the strong foul smell left little doubt about the source of the runoff. We confirmed that it came from the Mare-Chicose dump. This is not the first time.”

Sotravic/Strata Under Scrutiny After Waste Management Issues

The consortium Sotravic/Strata is facing increased scrutiny following a report by Luxconsult, the consultant overseeing operations at the Mare-Chicose landfill.

The report highlighted that the consortium lacks modern and appropriate equipment for waste management.

This comes in the wake of a fire that broke out on November 6, raising concerns about the consortium’s ability to manage a landfill filled with hazardous materials like methane, oxygen, and plastic from decomposing waste.

The accumulation of foul and toxic water at the site has led to a surge in insects, particularly mosquitoes, causing disturbances for local residents.

There are also fears that the leachate, a toxic liquid produced from waste accumulation, may have contaminated the rivers in the affected villages.

While it is important not to jump to conclusions, there are indications supporting this concern.

Luxconsult revealed that Sotravic/Strata has failed to meet its contractual obligation to remove leachate at a rate of 6,000 m² per week, despite multiple reminders.

The question now is whether the management will adhere to the consultant’s recommendations, which include a deadline of December 2, 2024, for compliance.

The site is nearing capacity, and frustration is mounting among residents.

Michel Mesnage, a French engineer specializing in plant construction, emphasized that the risks of fire and wastewater discharge remain critical issues.

He stated that landfills must adhere to strict protocols for thorough analysis and compare results to international discharge standards.

Mesnage has previously called for a new storage area for Mare-Chicose, equipped with proper leachate and biogas collection systems.

He questioned whether Sotravic has the necessary trucks and pumping equipment for leachate transfer, especially in light of potential climate change impacts that could lead to more intense rainfall.

Residents in affected villages, such as Riche-en-Eau, are growing increasingly angry.

Many families rely on the river for their livelihoods, fishing for shrimp, crayfish, and eels to sell. This vital resource is now at risk due to negligence.

Some families even use this water for household tasks, despite its contamination.

This troubling incident has largely gone unnoticed in the news, as the Environmental Police and relevant ministry were reportedly not informed.

Le Mauricien‘s source within the agency stated, “This information was only shared on social media. If we had been notified, we would have acted quickly to collect water samples for analysis. Witnesses to such events must contact the Environmental Police, as the health and safety consequences for residents can be severe.”

Source: Le Mauricien