The Civil Guard, through its Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) , has launched an investigation after detecting the dumping of approximately 100 kilograms of copper sulfate into an irrigation canal on the right bank of the Ebro River, in the province of Tarragona. The incident occurred during a preventative operation in the towns of Xerta and Aldover, where officers observed two individuals unloading several sacks and pouring their contents directly into the water.
After identifying the suspects and inspecting the vehicle, the guards found empty containers of the chemical, whose use is restricted due to its toxicity. A few hours after the spill, hundreds appeared de peces dead floating in the section between Amposta and the mouth of the Ebro, which led researchers to consider a logical relationship between both events, taking into account the flow and current of the river.
A strategic channel for supply
The affected canal is not only used for agricultural irrigation, but also It supplies water for industrial uses and for human consumption.which raises questions about what water to use in aquariums and other closed systems against environmental contamination. Given the seriousness of the situation, the agents took water samples and de peces dead and were sent to the Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences to determine the concentration of copper sulfate and its possible impact on public health and the ecosystem.
The Catalan Water Agency (ACA), the Ebro River Basin Authority (CHE) and the Tarragona Water Consortium (CCAAIT) were immediately informed; these bodies collaborate in assessing the extent of the spill and in coordinating the necessary measures to minimize the damage.
Investigation underway: three people involved
The two individuals caught during the spill were placed under investigation for an alleged crime against natural resources and the environment. During their statements, officers were able to inspect the warehouse where they claimed to have purchased the product, locating another twelve sacks of copper sulfate . The investigation revealed that both had acted on the instructions of a third person, who has also been summoned as a suspect in the same case.
The Civil Guard is continuing its investigation to determine the environmental consequences of the spill. Copper sulfate, although used as an algaecide and fungicide in controlled environments, can cause mass deaths de peces and disrupt the biological balance of the ecosystem when applied in an uncontrolled manner to an aquatic environment. Furthermore, copper tends to accumulate in sediments, which could prolong the damage for months.
The police report has been submitted to the duty magistrate in Tortosa, and the Tarragona Provincial Prosecutor's Office, through its Special Delegation for the Environment and Urban Planning, has been notified. Toxicological analyses will be key to confirming the link between the spill and the fish deaths, as well as to assessing the risk to the drinking water supply and crops in the area.
This incident highlights the importance of Seprona's continuous monitoring of river ecosystems, especially in fishing refuge areas where illegal activities had already been detected. Collaboration between the Civil Guard, water agencies, and the specialized prosecutor's office will allow for a thorough investigation and, where appropriate, the determination of criminal and environmental liability.