Costa Rica New – It is time for Costa Rica to start being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to river pollution in the country. But is it too late?
Neighbors of Montes de Oca and Curridabat report contamination of the Ocloro River. There have been two cases reported in the last week and authorities don’t know where the problem originates.
The river turned pink and then it changed to a strong red. Councilor Priscilla Carrillo was notified by several neighbors of the environmental damage. She went to the area to see what was happening. She reported the odd color and that there was no strong smell and luckily no dead animals found.
The inspection is being carried out by the Environmental Directorate along with the Water Directorate. Samples were collected in a radius of 50 meters around the riverbed and sent to a private laboratory for analysis.
Recope admitted to contaminating the Arriaz River with hydrocarbon residues last March. In that case residents also reported it and municipal authorities confirmed it. Recope found the problem in a grease trap while doing maintenance work.
