The Civil Guard estimates that for four days 2.2 million liters of contaminated water were poured into the burning of Arkaitz.
- The Civil Guard investigates four officers of the Zubieta incinerator for their alleged responsibility for the killing of several ammoniac fish in May in the Biscayan village of Arkaitzerreka. According to the researchers, the spillage was not temporary, but lasted for four days and 2,200,000 litres of ammonia contaminated water were extracted from the incinerator.
The Civil Guard, through Europa Press, has reported that its Seprona department, specialising in environmental crimes, is investigating the pollution of the Arkaitzerreka River that occurred last May. By order of the Judge having the case in the Court. The Spanish police have also needed the help of Europol, as one of the partners that owns the Gipuzkoa incinerator is a non-Spanish company, the strongest of all.
If it was known that the contamination that caused the death of several species of fish and eels was likely to be caused by ammonia, the study carried out by Seprone agents in operation Ammonium reveals some details of the spillage. The spillage, according to the researchers, was not the result of a minor accident, but was prolonged for four days, and it was suspected that this was not the first time reported by Zubieta's neighbours, as there had previously been at least another leakage at the site.
Those responsible for the incinerator confessed in those days that in the cleaning process after the discharge of a truck there was a leak and that due to misuse of the facilities, the contents of the cistern reached the stream. Now, the Civil Guard has explained that the technicians who led the operation did not attach greater importance to the discharge and that the procedures of the building itself were not complied with.
In addition, however, the agents have realised that the pH measurement system of the waters that dewatered the incinerator itself was not activated and therefore ammonia was not detected, although it is poured at a concentration of 25%.
According to the researchers, the number of ammonia detected in the Arkaitzerreka River was 220 times higher than the legally allowed, causing the death of all the fish in the river. Approximately 2,200,000 litres of ammonia contaminated water were discharged into the Arkaitzerreka.
It should be noted that the Civil Guard carries out the investigation of an environmental crime that has occurred in the territorial area of Donostia-San Sebastián, for the following reason: The Ertzaintza is not prepared to prosecute environmental crimes, as the environmental associations have repeatedly denounced.
