The complaint, made even during the Winter Judicial Fair, arguing the seriousness of the environmental damage, was promoted after the Gualeguaychú Environmental Forum warned that, since February, industrial effluents turn “practically without treatment” to the river.
The Federal Court of Gualeguaychú – in charge of Judge Hernán Viri – received a criminal presentation that points to the Development Corporation of Gualeguaychú (Codegu), to the municipality and the Government of Entre Ríos for alleged pollution of the Gualeguaychú River, linked to the poor operation of the effluent treatment plant of the Industrial Park (PIG).
The forum argues that, for months, the plant operates below its capacity, and that sludge extraction tasks are not carried out correctly, which resulted in direct discharge to the river. In their judicial presentation, they ask that the possible violation of the Dangerous Waste Law (24,051) be investigated, which includes up to 10 years in prison if the ecosystem or public health is put at risk.
In addition, they demand independent technical expertise and that is summoned to declare those responsible for CODEGU, the municipality and the provincial government. The forum also claimed greater transparency in technical reports, which are usually kept in reserve.
Codegu response and the municipality
Codegu recognized inconveniences in the plant, as accumulation of barros and wear of pieces, but denied having poured raw effluents to the river. Its president, Tommy Fogg, said they hired external specialists, that three of the four pools already work properly, and that “there is nothing to hide”, inviting the forum to participate in audits.
For its part, the Undersecretary of Environment, Ivana Zecca, indicated that infraction minutes were worked, that accumulated sediments are being removed and that a biweekly monitoring of the plant and the PIG industries are carried out. He also defined an ongoing action plan, with processes and smell control optimization, especially in the Don Pedro neighborhood.
It is expected that in approximately 30 days the cleanliness and repair will be completed, depending on the weather, and barros would have already removed from two of the three pools, according to Zecca.
Frust versions and community tension
The Environmental Forum argues that the plant “is still out of regime” and that the effluents reach the river with partial treatment, when they should be completely purified.
He ensures that the situation has been persists for more than a month and attributes pollution to the lack of technical personnel and the collapse of the plant, opened in 2019.
Faced with this dilemma, the residents of the Don Pedro neighborhood demonstrated this week in access to the Industrial Park, delivering flyers and claiming concrete answers.
In the meetings held, municipal officials assured that they will intensify the controls, not only with biochemical demand analysis and oxygen chemistry, but also with biweekly inspections and digital control signatures.
Context and next steps
For years there has been a history of periodic monitoring at the PIG plant: in April 2024, four biweekly samples were made according to the Municipal Ordinance 12.798/2023.
Also, in 2023 progress was made in the extension of treatment lagoons, from 50 to 270 m³/h, with current hydraulic tests
In February 2025, Codegu reported that the PIG has 34 companies whose effluent management is periodically monitored, although he remarked that he has no sanctioning power, a function that corresponds to the State.
The judicial case will be key to determining whether the authorities breached serious environmental regulations or if the operational failures were rectible without significant environmental damage. In parallel, the municipality reinforced its surveillance and promised to keep the community informed about the advances.
