According to an expert, the failure of a dam can increase the risk of disease and affect Great BH's water



[ad_1]

The inhabitants of Belo Horizonte and the metropolitan area should save water now and worry about the environmental damage that could be caused by the rupture of the Vale dam in Brumadinho. These include a possible increase in cases of chikungunya, zika virus and yellow fever.

Alerts were launched by the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation's Water Network Coordinator, Malu Ribeiro, at a press conference at the Minas Gerais Prosecutor's Office (MPMG). ), on Monday (28). Yesterday, the NGO made an expedition along the Paraopeba River, affected by the residues that flowed from the dam on Friday (25).

The members of the expedition traveled 40 km along the river to collect water samples and residues. "In this water collection, we perform a real-time badysis of the river, measuring fluidity, oxygen level, pH and all chemical components entering the water quality index. water, "explains

. According to the expert, the measure would aim to collect sediment to badyze the type of heavy metal that would reach the tributary and to check if there existed living organisms. These elements "are fundamental to ensure that there will be no proliferation of insects affecting other unaffected areas," he said.

"A disaster such as this is not confined to the realm of fact: the loss of ecosystems can have a much greater impact than in any watershed. have shown that such cases may present risks badociated with chikungunya, Zika virus and yellow fever, due to the loss of aquatic fauna consuming these insects in the bed, as was the case with the Rio Doce. "

Even though the risk of water scarcity in the metropolitan area is currently being ruled out, the specialist says it is necessary to save because, because of the waste that has fallen" Although it is n & rsquo; There is no shortage because the other tanks have a good volume of water, it is important that the population saves water because we do not know for how long we can not catch ourselves the Paraopeba water, "he explains.

In addition to the risk of water consumption, Malu stresses that, even though it contains less mud, it does not badert, moreover, that the damage to the environment will be less than that of Mariana.

"The spilled material is similar and has the same composition.When the residues are confined, the concentration of pollutants is higher and can reach the groundwater, which affects the sources.While it rains, it will be carried downstream This will change the dynamics of the Paraopeba basin, "said the coordinator, who emphasizes:" The quality of water takes decades to regenerate, for example, three years after the dam broke in Mariana, the water of Rio Doce is not as it should be, "he says.

The devastated region of Brumadinho (Bárbara Ferreira / BHAZ)

According to Copasa, Due to the disturbance of the dam, the company closed the valves of the water catchment unit on the Paraopeba River. "This was a preventive action to preserve the facilities of this collection," says the company.

The company specifies that the functioning of this co Since its establishment until the day of the rupture, the lection allowed the recovery of water levels in the river's reservoirs. Rio Manso, Serra Azul and Vargem das Flores. "These reservoirs, badociated with the capture of Rio das Velhas, are sufficient for the continuity and the normality of the water supply of the population of the metropolitan area of ​​Belo Horizonte."

The volume currently stored in the dams is 198 million cubic meters of water, which, according to Copasa, guarantees a steady supply of water. population during the next drought period 2019/2020.

Revolt

"We observe the same thing in the same way, it is unfortunate that we are here, three years later, knowing that we have not changed commas and that we have learned nothing from the environmental tragedy of Mariana, "said project coordinator Manuelzão and president of the forum on the Minas Gerais river basin, Marcus Vínicius Polignano

According to Polignano, a crisis office will be set up to accompany the case . "Impunity, profit and profit do not justify risk, we will lose lives if we do not overhaul our priorities, create a civil society crisis cabinet and entrust ALMG, which has even created a Mariana ICC

Responsibilities

Andressa de Oliveira Lanchotti, promoter and coordinator of the Environmental Defense Attorney's Support Center, indicated that MPMG wanted to learn from Mariana's mistakes and Do not plan to follow the same steps. "Creating a foundation is out of the question. We want this responsible company to challenge the necessary costs. In Brumadinho, the disaster will be less serious, but on the socio-economic level, the damage will be greater. However, he still can not establish a relationship because the values ​​will also be significant. Let's badyze on a case-by-case basis, "he said.

[ad_2]
Source link