San Agustín, a district in Huancayo, Peru, is grappling with a critical issue concerning the lack of treatment for its domestic wastewater. The district currently relies on two ponds to manage its wastewater. Initially, the wastewater passes through a simple system of grates designed to separate larger solid wastes. However, these ponds receive no further treatment. The untreated effluent is discharged through a channel into the Mantaro River, which unfortunately continues to suffer from pollution.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that some residents use the water from this channel to irrigate their alfalfa crops, which serve as feed for their livestock. This practice raises significant health concerns, as the untreated wastewater contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pollutants. Moreover, the local community is adversely affected by the resulting odors and the potential for disease transmission.

The San Agustín municipality has neglected this pressing issue for a considerable time. Their primary argument is that homes should not have been built near the ponds, claiming that the residents constructed their houses illegally without proper construction permits. This justification has allowed the municipality to evade responsibility for addressing the wastewater treatment problem, leaving the community to suffer the consequences.

In response to the municipality's inaction, our institute undertook a chemical analysis of the wastewater in San Agustín. Our findings revealed that the water does not meet the permissible limits for total suspended solids (TSS) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). These results underscore the significant health and environmental risks posed by the untreated wastewater. The high levels of TSS and BOD indicate that the water is not only harmful to the residents but also to the broader ecosystem of the Mantaro River.

Upon presenting our findings, we demanded immediate action from the municipality to treat the wastewater. The municipal authorities committed to addressing the issue, acknowledging the urgent need for a proper wastewater treatment system. Despite their promises, progress has been minimal. The municipality has only recently started assembling a team to tackle the problem, and substantial advancements remain to be seen.

The community of San Agustín is in dire need of a comprehensive wastewater treatment solution. Immediate steps must be taken to install an effective treatment system that can mitigate the health and environmental hazards currently posed by the untreated wastewater. The municipality must prioritize this issue and allocate the necessary resources to ensure the well-being of its residents and the protection of the Mantaro River.

We remain hopeful that the municipality will fulfill its commitments and take swift action to address this critical issue. The health of the community and the integrity of the local environment depend on it. Until then, the residents of San Agustín continue to endure the consequences of inadequate wastewater treatment, eagerly awaiting the day when meaningful progress is made.