Pseudomonas and fecal streptococci among other findings in Hatillo Dam

Sánchez Ramírez.- More than a month after the worrying level of contamination in the Hatillo Dam, the largest freshwater lake in the Greater Antilles, was publicly denounced, residents of nearby communities reiterate their alert call due to the lack of visible actions by the competent authorities.

Citizens express their fear of the possible health and environmental consequences that the greenish coloration of the dam could generate, a phenomenon that they claim persists and has intensified in some areas. According to them, the situation could lead to outbreaks of diseases that affect families who depend directly or indirectly on these waters.

In December 2025, the Ministry of Environment Environment and Natural Resources, through the Vice Ministry of Environmental Management and the Directorate of Environmental Quality, reported that the green coloration observed in the dam was due to an algal bloom, according to a technical survey carried out by specialists from the institution, along with personnel from the Aniana Vargas National Park. However, residents claim that, faced with persistent concern, they decided to take water samples on their own and take them to different laboratories for analysis. According to the results they claim to have received, the tests confirmed an anomalous green coloration and showed a high level of bacterial and chemical contamination, including the presence of total coliforms, pseudomonas and fecal streptococci, as well as high concentrations of cyanide, phosphates and other elements, which they warn represents a serious risk to public health and environmental balance, with the potential to generate a health crisis if action is not taken in a timely manner.

You can also read: Water coloring in Hatillo dam is caused by algae

“The water not only looks green, it also has a strong smell. There are children and elderly people here, and no one has explained to us what real risks we are running,” expressed a resident of the area, who requested to remain anonymous.

Another community member pointed out that the lack of clear information increases uncertainty: “They tell us it's algae, but the color remains the same and no one comes to face us. We live off this dam, we fish here and use the water every day”.

Similarly, a local farmer warned about the economic and health impact: "If this water is contaminated, so are our crops. We cannot wait for diseases to appear before taking action." The complainants make a direct call to environmental and health authorities to conduct independent, transparent, and continuous studies, and that the results be shared with the population. They also demand the implementation of immediate measures to guarantee the protection of the ecosystem and the health of the communities that depend on the Hatillo Dam.