A few meters from the first houses of Valdelamusa, a small town in the province of Huelva, the construction of a gigantic raft of toxic waste from the Aguas Teñidas mine. This facility, which will occupy 120 hectares (the equivalent of 200 football fields), is designed to store hazardous waste, such as water contaminated with copper, zinc and lead. The project arouses strong opposition among neighbors, who denounce the risk it represents for their health and the environment.
The main concern is the impact this could have on the neighboring Tamujoso reservoira vital water source for several towns in the region. “It’s a danger, we have it right here,” says a neighbor. “If this water is contaminated, all the surrounding towns will also have contaminated water. It’s a shame,” he adds.
In addition to the water riskthe project envisages the felling of more than 30,000 pine trees, which will significantly modify the local ecosystem. The neighborhood platform created to oppose the construction of the pond has already started a signature collection campaignwith the aim of putting pressure on the authorities to reconsider the location of the project.
For its part, the company responsible ensures that it has complied with all regulationsincluding an environmental assessment, and declares having kept the population informed. However, residents question the transparency of the process and fear irreversible consequences could occur before they can stop the work.
THE The Junta de Andalucía has already given its approval to the projecteven if some licenses are still missing to start the work, which leaves a small window of opportunity for opponents.
