Recently, a major mining company spilled around 40,000 cubic meters of copper sulfate acid solution into the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers, in the Mexican state of Sonora.
This spill led authorities to shut down wells in the affected areas, leading to water shortages for an estimated 22,000 inhabitants and prompting the distribution of water in trucks and plastic bottles. As schools across the country returned this week from the summer vacations, Sonora authorities kept 89 schools in nine municipalities closed until inspections can be completed and the quality of water guaranteed.
There is no doubt that the financial and reputational costs for this spill is huge. The question is whether or not this could have been prevented? Read the full blog post.