In Peru there is a great deal of water pollution from toxic discharges, mainly from the operations of mining companies.
Photo: Roberto Villanueva
“No one told us the water was contaminated but my son’s anemia and health issues were finally explained when they did blood tests and it came out high heavy metal levels. Even though I boil and filter the water they give us, the thought of poisoning my son keeps tormenting me.” This is one of the stories shared by Pedro Arrojo Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to drinking water and sanitation , knew during his visit to Peru.
According to Arrojo, another 10 million people, or 31% of the country’s population, are at risk because they absorb toxins such as heavy metals from the water. Pollution is generated by mining and sewage. (read: Women are also protagonists at the biodiversity summit)
In his report, the Special Rapporteur found that, for example, more than half the population of Pasco, Puno, Amazonas, Callao, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Cusco and Ucayali consume heavy metals, while the percentage rises to 100% of the population of Lambayeque .
This situation is in addition to numerous environmental impacts, including the drying up of lagoons, wetlands and springs, the disappearance of species and fish kills. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the National Water Agency denies toxic contamination, according to Arrojo.
“A dramatic example is that of the city of Cajamarca, where 70% of the population drinks the water previously used by the Yanacocha Newmont mining company. Years ago, the company drained the wells of the Rio Grande spring that historically fed the city. Currently, the company is diverting streams previously pumped from the aquifer and used in its production processes into the canal for distribution to the population as drinking water, in violation of constitutional primacy,” the report said. (read: Sports organizations around the world signed an agreement to protect nature)
He also asserts that it’s difficult to access independent analyzes of the presence of contaminants in the water, as these are carried out precisely by the mining companies themselves.
Faced with this situation, Arrojo Agudo made a number of recommendations, among which stand out: Stop new concessions in the upper reaches of the catchment areas and effectively implement the relevant law, guaranteeing the effective participation of the affected population; Urgently activate existing legislation to clean up environmental debt with adequate funding; enable independent and transparent investigation and monitoring of possible toxic contamination of stocks and epidemiological analysis of public health consequences.