In a scenario that unfolds week after week in Guaza, within the municipality of Arona, wastewater spills over from a sewer at the junction of Amelga and Francisco Feo Rodríguez streets, situated just behind some refuse containers. This predicament is impacting the daily lives of approximately 60 inhabitants of the locality and has led to rising discontent for nearly a year.
The local council has begun to consistently dispatch a suction tanker to remove the water, yet this remedy is only temporary; three days later, once again entirely filled, the issue resurfaces as torrents that sweep down the adjacent streets, bringing with them a foul odour and numerous other repercussions.
“We are leaping over puddles every day,” remarks one resident. Many locals note that the flow of wastewater visibly escalates around 3:00 p.m., which coincides with children returning home from school. In the mornings and early afternoons, the problem is not as apparent, but as darkness descends, the situation spirals into an untenable state, according to their reports.
Besides the residents, a nearby business has also reported the inconvenience. Several employees, who wish to remain unnamed, illustrate how the water accumulation tarnishes the establishment’s image. “You can’t imagine it. A customer steps out of their car and enters, the stench of the water lingering in their vehicle. It is very unpleasant and creates a negative perception among patrons,” one explained. Moreover, the enduring foul smell emanating from the sewer has adversely affected the environment in the vicinity; upon entering the area, the prevailing stench becomes “intolerable.” “We stroll down the street pinching our noses,” adds another neighbour, lamenting the severity of the situation.
Initial investigations and the account provided by Luis Manuel Díaz, the owner of one of the apartments next to the sewer, suggest that the root of the problem can be traced back to a structural decision: “It all stems from the fact that they permitted this well to be constructed outside the boundaries of the sewer, adjacent to the townhouses. It should not be on the pavement or within a public space,” emphasizes Díaz. This resident, regarded as “the first affected” due to his closeness to the site, merely three metres away, has sought resolutions through direct engagement with the council and local police, but “has yet to receive a reply that would resolve the issue.” This newspaper has similarly not obtained a response from the council after inquiring yesterday regarding this matter.
The sewer connects to a well that collects water from the urbanisation and nearby areas. Along the principal street of Guaza, a central water supply network caters to the residents. However, on secondary roads, households possess independent water inlets that, as one neighbour mentions, are not linked to this central system, seemingly complicating the effective disposal of wastewater, yielding these undesirable outcomes.
Proliferation of Pests
The situation has triggered additional complications for locals, who are raising concerns about the surge in cockroach numbers and the health risks presented by the ongoing overflows. “Cockroaches emerge, and it becomes impractical,” states a troubled neighbour.
For the time being, the Guaza community continues to await a decisive response from the authorities to address this persistent issue.
