Video Posted on Social Media Brings Sewage Problem to Light
A video shared by the environmental awareness project “Água Salgada” on Friday has drawn attention to a serious pollution issue on the island of Madeira. The footage shows cloudy sea water and reports a strong smell of sewage between the areas of Reis Magos and Atalaia, near the Garajau nature reserve. The video quickly spread across social media, prompting public concern.
The location of the leak between Reis Magos and Atalaia, near the Garajau Nature Reserve, is especially worrying, as it is an area known for its rich marine life and clear waters. The incident has raised questions about the condition of the local sanitation network and the speed of official responses.
This Friday, April 18, at 12:00, I spotted this open sewage between the area of Reis Magos and Atalaia, very close to the Garajau Natural Reserve. The seawater was becoming murky, and the smell was intense.
Regional Authorities Demand Urgent Repairs
In reaction to the incident, Madeira’s environmental authority, the Direção Regional do Ambiente e Mar (DRAM), issued an urgent order to the Santa Cruz City Council. They were asked to immediately fix a serious failure in the area’s sewage system.
Leak Due to a Major Blockage in an Underwater Pipeline
According to the DRAM, the leak came from a major blockage in an underwater pipeline connected to the wastewater treatment station in Caniço. This station handles waste from both Caniço and Camacha. The pipeline is currently being cleared by the contracted utility company.
The inspection chamber where the discharge occurred, located at the base of Pico da Atalaia, has shown recurring blockages in recent times, potentially indicating serious deficiencies in the maintenance of the terminal section of the network.
Signs of Ongoing Problems in the Sewage System
The sewage leak occurred at an inspection point located at the base of Pico da Atalaia. This point has reportedly suffered repeated blockages in recent months. Environmental authorities believe this shows clear problems in how the network is being maintained, especially in its final sections.
Responsibility for the system, which includes collecting, treating, and discharging wastewater, falls fully to the municipalities. DRAM has reminded Santa Cruz officials that this is not the first warning they’ve received about this section of infrastructure. Previous alerts have not been enough to stop the issue from worsening.
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