Spillage of cachaza at the Mayabeque sugar mill contaminates water supply in Matanzas

A spill of cachaza that occurred at the Boris Luis Santa Coloma sugar mill in the province of Mayabeque has contaminated the water supply source in Matanzas, leading to interruptions in the water supply and concerns among the population about potential effects on the quality of drinking water.

The delegate of Hydraulic Resources of Matanzas, Antonio Hernández Martínez, informed on his Facebook account that, as a preventive measure, the pumping schedule has been reduced, affecting the supply in the Matanzas Este and Oeste popular councils, Versalles, and El Naranjal.

In light of the risk of water contamination, a fact that has not been reported by the local press, it was decided to prioritize the supply to hospitals and other health institutions, and distribution has begun using tanker trucks in the affected neighborhoods, the official emphasized.

The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), and the Hygiene Directorate are conducting constant monitoring to assess pollution levels and ensure that the distributed water is safe for consumption.

Hernández stated that the population will be kept informed about the progress in resolving the issue, although he did not specify how long it will take to fully restore the service nor did they clarify if there are any immediate health risks due to the contamination.

Although the representative of Hydraulic Resources in Matanzas stated that the incident occurred "a few days ago," the latest information published about the Boris Luis Santa Coloma sugar mill is, ironically, the reception of the Labor Feat Flag.

This recognition rewards the effort and perseverance of the workers and specialists who, in a record time of six days, managed to solve complex issues in the boiler and other equipment, as highlighted by the official Radio Mayabeque.

In 2020, the drinking water in Calimete, Matanzas, was contaminated for several months, and although the exact causes were unknown, all signs pointed to the collapse of a structure from the Jesús Rabí sugar mill, which was built to process substances generated during sugar milling.

At that moment, at least 1,900 residents are affected by this situation, which began with murky, foul-smelling water containing greenish particles, said Yoelkys Morales Acosta, a resident of the town, to the local newspaper Girón.

"Its consistency was gelatinous, and its color was a strong yellow that stained the toilets and sinks. Of course, we couldn't use it on the animals or for irrigation."

Around 70 residents of the Centro Sur Popular Council, part of the José Martí Urban Center in Santiago de Cuba, were poisoned in 2021 due to the contamination of drinking water with sewage waste, several local journalists reported on their social media.

The local health clinic raised the alarm due to a sudden increase in patients suffering from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and symptoms of dehydration.

More than 70 people were poisoned in 2022 after consuming contaminated drinking water in Pinar del Río, according to official sources.

The Provincial Health Directorate and the Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology reported that in recent days there has been an increase in waterborne gastrointestinal infections, due to the heavy rainfall that has fallen in the area, according to an official statement from the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) broadcast by the telecenter Tele Pinar.

Frequently Asked Questions about the cachaza spill in Matanzas