Couple seeks R$ 500 fine against Chesf.

Alagoas247 - Representatives of the Alagoas Sanitation Company (Casal) informed, during a press conference, on the morning of this Friday (17), that they requested a fine of R$ 500 thousand from the São Francisco Hydroelectric Company (Chesf) for the damage caused to the supply of eight cities in the Sertão after a dark stain, of about 28km, formed in the São Francisco river. The report points out that the problem was caused after Chesf released sediments that had accumulated at the bottom of the lake, which had its gates opened for cleaning for the first time in more than 30 years. The organic materials created an environment conducive to the proliferation of algae.

The water sample analysis report, produced by the distributor's technicians, will be delivered to the Environmental Institute (IMA) and the State (MPE) and Federal (MPF) Public Prosecutor's Offices.

Casal reported that it was notified by Chesf at the end of February that the floodgates would be opened. Since that notification, the distributor has confirmed that it has been experiencing difficulties in cleaning the water at two treatment plants located in the Sertão region.

According to Jorge Briseno, advisor to the president of Casal, from April 7th to 14th, cleaning was impossible due to an excess of algae in the area. Because of this obstacle, the water supply was interrupted in eight municipalities for eight days.

According to Briseno, the algae bloom was caused by three distinct factors: first, the fact that the river in that location had lake-like characteristics, with no current and low flow; second, the strong sun; and third, the large amount of organic material deposited in the area, which favored the growth of organisms. It is suspected that these three events occurred simultaneously, rapidly expanding the dark stain in the river.

According to Casal, the seaweed found in the São Francisco River is not toxic, but it produces a significant amount of oxygen. Over time, it consumes the oxygen it has produced and also draws it from the water, which can cause fish mortality.

"From Casal's side, the water supply has already been restored. This was due to a greater flow of water from Chesf, which pushed the algae away," explained Briseno. According to him, Chesf was unaware of the sediment that had accumulated for decades at the bottom of the floodgates. In total, more than 23 million cubic meters of water were accumulated at the location where the floodgates were opened. Of this total, only 26% remained after the floodgates were opened.

According to Briseno, the fine was requested to compensate for the losses caused by the eight-day interruption in the water supply to eight cities. The company was forced to hire labor and implement an emergency strategy to supply water to these locations.

IMA

The laboratory director of IMA, Manoel Messias, also informed during the press conference that no discharge of untreated effluent (sewage) into the riverbed was detected. Since an increase in flow was requested (and this is already being done), the environmentalists' idea is to push the algae downstream. According to their explanation, if they (the algae) remain where they are, the problem could recur.

The IMA (Environmental Institute of Alagoas) announced that it will finalize the report and indicated that it will likely impose a fine on Chesf (Companhia Hidro Elétrica do São Francisco) for the environmental problem affecting the São Francisco River. The amount was not disclosed.

With gazetaweb.com