environment

Penonomé’s creeks polluted

LA PRENSA

pollution: Garbage dumped in the creeks creates bad odors.1029518

Gertrudis Márquez and Filemón Morán Martínez live in two different neighborhoods in Penonomé, but share a common concern: pollution in the creeks that run through the area.

Márquez, a 36-year resident of El Chorrillo, said she is affected by the bad odors coming from the large amounts of trash dumped in the creek bed every day.

Although a private company recently dredged the creek, removing an abundance of sediment, residents argued that more needed to be done, since some people continued to fill the ravine with garbage.

The situation is worse in the rainy season, when the creeks overflow and flood the yard of the surrounding residences. "The rains are coming and we're concerned because we don't know what to expect," said Márquez.

Filemón Martínez, who lives just four meters from the edge of the 11 de Octubre creek , said that his family has been very anxious. "We can´t stand the bad odors coming from decomposing animals that are thrown into the creek."

Ellinton Ríos, of Áreas Verdes de la Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (Anam), explained that ignorance is one factor contributing to the deterioration of the area's creeks. Ríos said that the Penonomé's creeks have become deposits for poorly treated wastewater garbage.

To increase awareness of the creeks's environmental importance, Anam has been collaborating with environmental engineering students at the Universidad Tecnológica de Coclé.

And officials at the Ministerio de Salud (Minsa) have recommended installing a municipal sewage treatment plant that serves the entire area.