The Secretariat of Environment of Entre Ríos intensified water monitoring and control tasks after detecting a reddish discoloration in the El Espinillo stream, a tributary of the Las Conchas stream, which flows into the Paraná River.

Although initial inspections ruled out operational failures in the Crespo treatment system, it is being investigated whether the phenomenon is due to biological processes linked to bacteria, or if it is a matter of industrial discharges without adequate treatment.

Criminal complaint for environmental contamination: request for federal investigation

The Fundación Cauce and the Ecologist Forum of Paraná filed a criminal complaint with federal prosecutor Leandro Ardoy, requesting:

• Investigation for environmental crimes according to Law 24.051 on Hazardous Waste
• Immediate judicial inspections with sample collection and specialized expert reports
• Identification of companies in the industrial parks of Crespo and Paraná
• Review of permits, controls, and technical reports from state agencies
• Testimonies from residents, scientists, and social organizations

“The goal is to stop environmental degradation and ensure the protection of water and public health for the communities of Entre Ríos,” the entities stated.

Evidence and background: dyed waters and extreme toxicity

The episode on October 26 was recorded by the kayak school “A Remarla” and disseminated by ERA Verde, showing blood-red waters in the Paraje Calzada de Espinillo. This phenomenon had already occurred in 2022 and 2023, possibly linked to the overflow of treatment lagoons in the Crespo Industrial Park.

A recent study led by Rafael C. Lajmanovich (UNL-CONICET), published in Water Environment Research, analyzed the streams Las Conchas, Espinillo, Crespo, and Las Tunas, detecting:

• Extreme toxicity levels incompatible with aquatic life
• Record presence of glyphosate in South America: 5,002 µg/kg of sediment
• Cumulative impacts on tadpoles as indicators of environmental health

“They are dumping sewage and industrial waste into water bodies with little dilution capacity. It is an environmental sacrifice zone,” warned Lajmanovich.

Criticism of state management and monitoring gaps

The Secretariat of Environment acknowledged that an integrated monitoring strategy has not been implemented for the Las Conchas stream basin, despite having announced it in 2024.

In an official response on January 22, 2025, it admitted that this strategy was not included in the Watershed Monitoring Program (Resolution No. 869/24 SA).

Federal jurisdiction and interjurisdictional urgency

Organizations argue that the case should be handled in federal court, given that the Paraná River and its tributaries form an interprovincial and international basin, with impacts that exceed the jurisdiction of Entre Ríos.

They cite Article 7 of the General Environmental Law, which assigns federal jurisdiction in cases of contamination with regional scope.

A call to action: protect the Paraná River as a common good

The complaint seeks to hold companies and officials accountable, demand concrete remediation measures, and promote a transparent and effective environmental management.

The Paraná, they claim, is a common good essential for life, and cannot continue to be a receptor of industrial waste and agrochemicals without control or sanction.

This case exposes a sustained environmental crisis in the Paraná basin, where the lack of effective control and the recurrence of polluting episodes constitute a structural risk situation.

The state and judicial response will be key to restoring water health, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the right to water for millions of people downstream.