Sewage overflow in Panama a risk to health

Overflowing sewage, known locally as “black water” could lead to serious health problems says Panama City Health Director Jorge Hassán.

The problem has become acute in recent years and, according The Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects stems  from a lack of planning as the addition of buildings in downtown areas has caused the system to become overloaded.

According to Hassán, exposure to the raw sewage could result in infections, allergies and even hepatitis. 

He said inspectors from the Ministry of Health are examining the situation in the San Francisco area, a report is expected today (June 7) and warned that  anyone dealing with leaking sewage should use gloves and protective gear.

 The Water  and Sewage Authority, Idaan says it is  receiving 40 complaints a day and they lay the blame on waste being dumped into the system, such as grease from restaurants and cement and debris from construction projects.

 One of the areas hit  this week is  Paitilla where homes close to the Union Club were flooded as sewage backed up.Residents believe that the situation could have been avoided if the authorities had heeded the complaints by citizens calling 311.

For two days residents blocked the street with their cars to call attention to the problem. Traffic backed up, but police took no action. 

When a three man  maintenance crew, arrived, they found an 8 inch sanitary line blocked with rags, plastic bottles, grease and debris of all kinds.
Miguel Ángel González, head of the department responsible for sewage in the metropolitan area, said that  of the 2,624  workers at  Idaan,  there are only 18 to address the 40 complaints they receive daily.
He said  that every drain cleaning costs Idaan about $ 350.  The  clogged sewer system was caused  not only because of overcrowding and building without proper planning, but also by the age of the system.
"Most of the pipes of the city are about 60 years old and remain the same in spite of zoning changes and new  buildings.
Julio Rovi,  president of the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects, says construction in Paitilla in  the last 10 years without any kind of planning has put  the sewer system in crisis.
"On top of that the buildings under construction are producing large amounts of waste such as cement, sand and stone that will stop the storm water system," said Rovi.
Health director Hassan, said that contact with wastewater can cause environmental pollution and allergies to residents, so they should clean the affected areas with water and bleach."