Red River Mystery: Pollution Concerns in Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA – A stream in Sarandí, a suburb south of Buenos Aires, turned an alarming shade of red this week, raising concerns among residents about possible chemical contamination. Many locals suspect that nearby factories and tanneries may have released pollutants into the water, which flows into the Río de la Plata, a major waterway shared by Argentina and Uruguay.
Water pollution has long been a serious issue in the region. The Matanza-Riachuelo River basin, known as one of the most polluted waterways in Latin America, has suffered from industrial waste and sewage contamination for years. While government initiatives have been launched to curb pollution, the problem persists.
Authorities from the Buenos Aires environmental ministry responded by collecting water samples for testing. They suggested that the red color might have been caused by an organic dye, though official test results have yet to be released.
Maria Ducomls, a long-time resident, described waking up to a strong, foul odor before noticing the river’s eerie transformation. She likened the scene to a “river covered in blood” and noted that, over the years, the stream had also turned blue, green, purple, and pink, sometimes with an oily sheen. She believes pollution is the root cause of these unusual color changes.
Experts familiar with the region’s environmental challenges see this incident as part of a larger, ongoing problem. Moira Zellner, a professor and former environmental consultant in Buenos Aires, pointed to weak regulations and lack of enforcement as key contributors to pollution in the area. She expressed sadness over the long history of contamination, noting that many communities near the affected rivers suffer serious health and environmental consequences.
Carlos Colángelo, president of the Professional Council of Chemistry for Buenos Aires Province, voiced concerns that hazardous chemicals may have been illegally dumped into the stream. Residents now await official test results, hoping for clarity and action to prevent further pollution.